Hearts of STIHL Winners Split $120,000 in Grants from STIHL Inc.
Winning American state parks to use funds for educational programming and park preservation
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – STIHL Inc. recently announced the winners of the 2022 Hearts of STIHL program, an initiative to care for the environment through the preservation of our nation’s state parks. The 2022 Hearts of STIHL winners, representing the nation’s six state park regions, have each been awarded a $20,000 grant to help fund sustainability, recovery, conservation or environmental education programs.
The recipients of the Hearts of STIHL grants by region and some examples of how they will use their grants are as follows:
Stewardship Corps after-school program, 8-week high/middle school program
Partnership with the City of Auburn and Auburn University College of Forestry Wildlife and Environment for non-native invasive species removal
Storm damaged and diseased tree replacement, native tree planting, eco-system maintenance
Tornado recovery, trail recovery and enhancement, equipment and material purchase
Installation of pollinator demonstration gardens at five Wyoming state parks
Improved biomass disposal, purchase of portable mill and wood kiln
“The Hearts of STIHL program was established to support America’s State Parks Foundation and its efforts to protect and enhance these national treasures,” said Roger Phelps, STIHL Inc. corporate communications manager. “All of us at STIHL look forward to working with the parks and park personnel on these projects.”
The awarded grants will be managed by America’s State Parks Foundation, ensuring that all funding will support environmental efforts and educational programming. More than 25 parks applied for the grant, with a broad variety of funding and support needs. “Selecting our final recipients was difficult,” said Phelps. “There were so many worthy projects, but in the end, we selected those that we felt would provide the greatest benefit to their communities and visitors to the parks.”
“America’s State Parks have had record levels of visitation across the country this year. The continued support of STHIL Inc. with this new Hearts of STIHL program will give our visitors increased enjoyment and understanding of conservation and the value of preserving the state park treasures for the future,” said Lewis Ledford, executive director at the National Association of State Parks Directors.
The Hearts of STIHL program expands STIHL’s relationship with America’s State Parks. For more than a decade, STIHL has been a sponsor of the National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School, providing scholarships for park personnel to attend.
The 2021 Hearts of STIHL program focused on planting 2,021 trees in two western state parks in response to the devastating effects of the 2020 wildfires. The project was a true partnership and included men and women of the Oregon and California state parks, professional arborist and STIHL Inc. spokesperson Mark Chisholm providing hazardous tree felling and training, Director of Conservation for the MeatEater group Ryan Callaghan and musical director for the Rolling Stones Chuck Leavell, who is also an award-winning tree farmer, conservationist and producer of the PBS television program “America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell.”
Visit www.stihlusa.com/community/hearts-of-stihl/ to learn more.
About America’s State Park Foundation
America's State Park Foundation is the official national-level nonprofit organization, 501(c)(3), whose sole purpose is to advance the missions and purposes of America's State Parks. America’s State Parks is an alliance of state park systems in all 50 states. The National Association of State Park Directors promotes and advocates for the state park systems of America in providing conservation and management of natural and cultural resources, quality outdoor recreation experiences, and connecting children and families to nature and the outdoors. With America’s State Parks encompassing more than 19 million acres and visitation of 800 million people annually, the economic impact to local communities is estimated to exceed $20 billion each year. America’s State Parks Foundation supports state parks systems of America for their own significance, as well as for their important contributions to the nation's environment, heritage, health and economy. More info: www.stateparks.org
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America,1 the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among U.S. landscape professionals,2 and the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL also offers a full line of battery powered handheld outdoor power equipment for the professional and consumer. STIHL products are sold through a network of more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast—not big-box stores. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, STIHL Inc., the U.S. affiliate of the global STIHL Group, exports to more than 80 countries around the world, and the majority of STIHL products sold in America are made in America.3 STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL Dealers are for distribution in the U.S. only. For more information or for the name of a local STIHL Dealer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHLusa.com.
1"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2021 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers. 2“Number one selling” claim based on 2007-2021 syndicated Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper market. 3A majority of STIHL products sold in America are made in America of U.S. and foreign materials.
STIHL Inc. is pleased to support the work of Independent We Stand, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the National Association of Landscape Professionals, America’s State Parks, the American Green Zone Alliance and theNorth American Hardware and Paint Association.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to www.stihlcareers.com. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
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Press inquiries: Roger Phelps (757) 785-1148
All other inquiries: STIHL Incorporated (757) 486-9100
