Spectrum Brands: To work for the lakes

Contact:

James Tye

Executive Director, Clean Lakes Alliance

james@cleanlakesalliance.com; Office: 608-255-1000; Mobile: 608-628-6655

David Prichard

VP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Spectrum Brands

david.prichard@spectrumbrands.com; Office: 608-278-6141; Mobile: 608-698-5029

On Earth Day, nearly 100 Spectrum Brands employees will be leaving the office for the afternoon to volunteer on local lakeshore projects.

They are participating in Clean Lakes Alliance’s (CLA) Renew the Blue Volunteer Days program, which pairs corporations with lakeshore improvement projects. According to CLA Executive Director James Tye, the projects really do make a difference.

“Hands-on experiences are some of the best ways to build appreciation,” said Tye. “When you build bridges between businesses and lakeshore parks, you protect the lakes and encourage more people to see their real value.”

CLA estimates that there are approximately 58 miles of shoreline in the watershed, making maintenance a significant task. CLA’s volunteers donated 942 hours to lakeshore improvement projects in 2014 alone, and a single outing cleared 50 dump truck loads of invasive shrubs.

“It’s a great opportunity for our employees to learn about environmental stewardship, and a chance for Spectrum Brands to give back to the community,” said Stacey Neu, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Spectrum Brands and Chair of the CLA Executive Board of Directors. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this effort.”

This will be Spectrum Brands’ third annual volunteer day and its biggest volunteer group to date. On Wednesday, April 22, Spectrum Brands employees will assist the UW-Lakeshore Nature Preserve, UW-Arboretum and the City of Middleton with invasive species removal, native plantings and trash pick up. Spectrum Brands is a Sustaining Founder of CLA, providing significant financial, staffing and other in-kind support each year.

The media are invited to attend. Interviews will be available with Spectrum Brands Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Nathan Fagre; CLA Executive Director James Tye; and UW-Lakeshore Nature Preserve Program Manager Laura Wyatt. Volunteers will walk or travel by bus to sites immediately following a short welcome at Spectrum Brands at 2 p.m., with work ending by 4:30 p.m.