Travel Expert Samantha Brown Joins Nature Valley® to Support National Parks and Encourage Visits this Summer

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As summer travel season heats up, Nature Valley^® has partnered with travel expert and TV personality Samantha Brown to encourage Americans to experience the beauty of our national parks, while helping to raise awareness for the importance of preservation efforts. The program, called the National Parks Project, benefits the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), whose mission is to help preserve America’s national parks for generations to come. Nature Valley is making a $400,000 flat donation to the NPCA and this summer, consumers can help raise an additional $100,000 for our parks by entering Universal Product Codes (UPC) from specially marked packages of Nature Valley products at PreserveTheParks.com.

“Nature Valley loves the national parks and we’re passionate about their preservation”

“A lot of people think of travel as a trip to a far off destination, when in reality, some of the world’s greatest treasures are right in our backyard. The national parks are some of the most beautiful places our country has to offer,” said Samantha Brown. “I’m partnering with Nature Valley to help ensure the parks are preserved for all to enjoy.”

How to Get Involved

Our national parks face chronic budget shortfalls and natural threats that have the potential to limit, and even degrade, their preservation. “Insufficient funding and support threatens the quality of our parks and our ability to preserve them,” said Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. “With the upcoming centennial of the National Parks Service in 2016, now is the best time for Americans to rally behind our parks – by visiting them, volunteering or helping raise funds through initiatives like the National Parks Project.”

This summer, consumers can join Samantha Brown and Nature Valley by:

Visiting PreserveTheParks.com and entering UPCs from Nature Valley products to help raise money for the NPCA. For each UPC entered now through October 31, 2011, Nature Valley has agreed to donate $.10 to the NPCA, up to $100,000, to support their preservation work near various parks across the country.
- Beginning July 12, 2011, Nature Valley is increasing donations to the NPCA from $.10 to $1.00 for a short time (maximum donation still $100,000). Visit PreserveTheParks.com to learn more about this promotion.
Entering for the chance to win a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks at PreserveTheParks.com or the Nature Valley Facebook page. No purchase necessary. See website for complete rules and information on how to enter.
Browsing the “Preserve the Parks” section of the Nature Valley Facebook page for park tips and inspiring photos from Samantha Brown and Nature Valley to help them make the most of their national parks experience this summer.

The National Parks Project

This marks the second year of the National Parks Project, a partnership between Nature Valley and the NPCA. Nature Valley’s $400,000 flat donation and the additional funds raised from UPC entries, up to $100,000, supports restoration projects surrounding six national parks this summer and throughout the year, including:

Acadia National Park
Biscayne National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Yellowstone National Park

Samantha Brown’s involvement with the National Parks Project represents a growing list of public figures that have shown their support for our parks since the program’s launch, including most recently, actor Josh Holloway.

“Nature Valley loves the national parks and we’re passionate about their preservation,” said Scott Baldwin, marketing manager for Nature Valley. “We want to help remind families and individuals to enjoy nature this summer, and visit some of the beautiful parks in their own backyard.”

About National Parks Conservation Association

Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 600,000 members and supporters, and many partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

About Nature Valley^®

Nature Valley created the granola bar category in 1975 and brings great taste to active consumers looking for wholesome snacks. Nature Valley offers seven great-tasting granola snacks: Crunch Granola Bars, Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars, Chewy Trail Mix Bars, Granola Thins, Yogurt Granola Bars, Roasted Nut Crunch Bars, and Granola Nut Clusters. In addition to supporting the National Parks Conservation Association, Nature Valley is the Official Natural Granola Bar of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour, the United States Ski and Snowboarding Association, Nature Valley NASTAR, Cross Country Ski Areas Association, Vail Resorts, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. In addition, Nature Valley is the title sponsor of the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

About Samantha Brown

TV personality and travel expert Samantha Brown spends over 200 days traveling each year. Be it short weekend getaways or oversea adventures, Brown is expert pro in all aspects of the travel experience. Born in New Hampshire, she attended Syracuse University where she received her degree in Fine Arts; pursuit of an acting career in New York lead to various commercials before signing on with the Travel Channel. In her 10-year plus tenure with the Travel Channel, Brown hosted numerous hit series, including: “Samantha Brown: Passport to Great Weekends,” “Samantha Brown: Passport to Green Getaways,” “Samantha Brown: Passport to Europe” and “Samantha Brown: Passport to Latin America.”

*Nature Valley is a registered trademark of General Mills.

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