The environment is something the residents and employees in New Jersey know something about. Newspapers from the highlands to the shore frequently headline open space issues, sprawl, urban revitalization, clean water and traffic congestion. Now those who live and work in the state have a new opportunity to support these causes through an unprecedented collaboration between America’s major environmental groups and New Jersey’s major environmental and conservation organizations. It's an initiative called Earth Share, which allows working people to easily and effectively donate to environmental groups through payroll deduction at the workplace.

Earth Share was founded in 1988 by 18 national environmental and conservation charities seeking to coordinate workplace fundraising. Today’s announcement joins the national organization with New Jersey affiliates, and affiliates from 14 other states. 18 of New Jersey’s leading environmental groups are involved with this affiliation while nationwide more than 450 local organizations in 20 states are included. Of the more than 40 national members, such familiar names as The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund and the National Audubon Society are involved. The result is that employees can now make a single donation across the full spectrum of environmental causes, addressing issues ranging from protecting the Hudson and the Amazon River, to preserving New Jersey's Pinelands and the Brazilian rainforest.

This affiliation offers expanded choice for workplace giving campaigns in New Jersey and offers employees the ability to direct their philanthropy to environmental causes. Earth Share will appeal to more employees and employers than ever before, at a time when New Jersey’s environment needs all the support it can get.

Some of the world’s most respected companies host Earth Share giving campaigns, including Pitney Bowes, The New York Times Company, Sears Roebuck & Co., American Airlines, Entercom Communications Corporation, HBO, and Dell Computer Corporation. Campaign sponsors also include the federal government through the Combined Federal Campaign, New Jersey state government, and dozens of cities and counties.

Employers see Earth Share as an important part of corporate citizenship and good business. "We’re giving our employees the choice to support environmental causes, in addition to other voluntary giving," said David Field, President and COO of Entercom Communications Corporation, a host of Earth Share campaigns since 1997. "Because employees can give as little as they want to as many organizations as they want, we expect workplace giving overall to increase. That’s good for our employees, our company and the many worthy causes these organizations support."

"At Dell, our Earth Share campaign is founded on the principal of choice which is consistent with our culture and direct business model," said Michele Dunkerley, vice president of Americas Legal and Government Relations, Dell Computer. "As a global corporation, we are committed to fully integrating environmental stewardship into every aspect of our business. Our partnership with Earth Share provides an opportunity, a system and an answer to our employees who personally want to support saving our natural heritage."

"Working people want a choice in how and to whom they give. Earth Share opens the whole range of the environmental and conservation community to employees," said Kalman Stein, President and CEO of Earth Share. Employees have responded to Earth Share. "Ninety-five percent of Earth Share donors had never given to environmental causes before," said Stein "But more employers must now step up to the plate and make Earth Share a charitable option in their employees’ campaigns."

For local communities and causes, the impact of Earth Share’s affiliate agreement is significant. "Local grass roots organizations are now working hand-in-hand with organizations making a difference on a national and international scale. We represent one-stop shopping for the environment," said Ken Medd, Executive Director of Earth Share of New Jersey.

Great Swamp Watershed Association, in Madison, is a member of Earth Share, New Jersey. Bonnie Gannon, Development Director for the Watershed Association and President of Earth Share New Jersey, said, "Earth Share offers people a unique opportunity to support local and regional environmental organizations through payroll deductions. It couldn’t be easier and we’re seeing a significant increase in giving this way."

The new affiliation agreement was made possible by grants from the Beldon Fund, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and The Turner Foundation. For more information about Earth Share, please contact Bonnie Gannon at 973-966-1900 or visit www.earthsharenj.org.

Photo Caption: Earth Share New Jersey Board members from left: Marie Curtis, Environmental Education Fund; Kim Kaiser, Association of NJ Environmental Commission; John Carno, NJ Audubon Society; Roberta Dyrsten, Morris Land Conservancy; Margaret O’Gorman, Pinelands Preservation Alliance; Shelly Hawk, Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association; Bill O’Hearn, Passaic River Coalition; Robin Dougherty, Greater Newark Conservancy; Amy Goldsmith, Clean Water Fund; Bill Dorman, South Branch Watershed Association; Dennis Reynolds, American Littoral Society; Christine Moser, Clean Ocean Action; Ken Medd, Earth Share New Jersey; Bonnie Gannon, Great Swamp Watershed Association.

######