June 7, 2006
The foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Friends and also offered the opportunity for them to raise funds towards another matching grant up to $2,500.
To assist the Friends, employees of the local Sam’s Club put on a car wash on April 29th with proceeds to go towards the matching grant. The Friends board and staff members attended the event held at the Cathedral City Sam’s Club and gave out information on their organization to attendees. They were able to raise the additional funds needed to match the grant.
The total grants of $7,500 will be presented to the Friends on Tuesday, June 20th to be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Sam’s Club opening in Palm Desert, on Thursday, June 22.
“At Sam’s Club we believe it is our responsibility to be a part of the collective effort to protect and preserve our natural resources,” stated Craig Reynolds, Sam’s Club Marketing Manager. “We have developed a four part company wide commitment to provide environmentally improved products to our customers, support educational program for children, look for better ways to build and operate Sam’s Club stores and offices, and support and encourage local community and environmental activities,” he added.
The Friends of the Desert Mountains, a Palm Desert non profit formed in 1987 which has helped conserve nearly 30,000 acres of critical land here in the Coachella Valley, meets the requirements of the Sam’s Club foundation.
The grant funds will be used to further their mission to preserve lands within the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains and to serve as the support organization for education, conservation and research to the Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
