L.L.Bean announces 2011 Outdoor Heroes award winners
L.L.Bean customers voted for their favorite hero to receive a $5,000 contribution
FREEPORT, ME – On September 07, 2011, L.L.Bean, a leading retailer of quality outdoor equipment and apparel, recently announced the top five winners of its Outdoor Heroes Award. The fourth annual L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes Award recognizes extraordinary people who help to preserve and promote outdoor spaces and activities.
“We’re very pleased to shine a light on these individuals who are making a difference with their personal commitments,” said Chris McCormick, L.L.Bean’s President and CEO. “The L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes Award was developed to thank those who have dedicated their time to promoting the enjoyment and preservation of the outdoors and encouraging others to do the same. These are people who may not make the front page news, but who change the world around us for the better.”
This year’s winners include:
- Elizabeth MacGregor Bates Wonalancet Out Door Club New Hampshire. A retiree who helped conserve 2,000 acres of land along lakes, ponds and farms in her area.
- Douglas Dear Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Maryland. An advocate of the healing effects of fly-fishing on wounded soldiers.
- Sylvie Fadrhonc Telluride Adaptive Sports Program Colorado. A life-changing injury turned an outdoor guide into an advocate for bringing the disabled outdoors.
- Carol and Bob Leone Teens to Trails Maine. The memory of their daughter inspired a couple to reconnect teens to the outdoors.
- Katie Zanto Adventure Risk Challenge California. An innovative educator who blends the outdoors with literacy training.
This year marked the first time L.L.Bean turned the task of choosing the winning heroes to its customers. L.L.Bean received over 600 nominations and narrowed the list to the top 10 nominees. Using a combination of traditional email marketing and social media channels Facebook and Twitter, L.L.Bean invited its customers to cast their one vote to choose the top five Outdoor Heroes. Over 25,000 votes were cast during the four week voting period.
“The new voting process allowed our customers to have a voice,” said Janet Wyper, L.L.Bean’s manager of community relations. “The ability to vote online and then share with others through one’s social network really increased our customer’s engagement with L.L.Bean and the Outdoor Heroes program. Ultimately, by spreading the word socially, we can heighten more customers’ awareness of the importance of connecting with the outdoors and being good stewards of it.”
In recognition of the five winning L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes, L.L.Bean will donate $5,000 to the organization associated with that individual. Each hero will be awarded a personalized commemorative lantern and a $500 L.L.Bean gift card. The company will also donate $1,000 to the five runners-up outdoor organizations, and the runners-up will each receive a $100 L.L.Bean gift card. For a complete list and description of the top 10 nominees visit http://www.llbean.com/heroes. Download photos of the 2011 Outdoor Heroes on Flickr.
About L.L.Bean, Inc.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. L.L.Bean products are rigorously tested, guaranteed to last and always shipped free. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. The 200,000 sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, L.L.Bean Facebook, L.L.Bean Twitter and L.L.Bean YouTube.
