Statewide, Ore. – Oregon ballot Measure 99, the Save Outdoor for All campaign, is continuing to gain steam, especially from businesses that view it as a positive way to support education, local communities and Oregon’s natural resources, while preserving an important state legacy.
This month, businesses such as New Seasons and Next Adventure are doing more than just embracing the Yes on Measure 99 cause, each are highlighting it through their own creative promotions and tie-ins.
Next Adventure is offering its customers a coupon via the Outdoor School for All campaign website to dedicate 20 percent of their purchase to helping Save Outdoor School for All, Sept. 12 – 18. New Seasons has highlighted their endorsement in employee communications and in advertising circulars.
“Giving back and supporting kids, education and Oregon’s great outdoors is important to us personally and as a business,” said Deek Heycamp, owner, Next Adventure. “We believe wholeheartedly in encouraging the next generation to learn to love the outdoors and we think it’s especially important now, when kids are spending on average more than seven hours of screen time a day.”
Measure 99 is viewed as a solid solution to provide all kids throughout Oregon with the opportunity to benefit from Outdoor School through Oregon lottery funding, without the need to raise taxes. Passing Measure 99 will be a landmark achievement that finally provides a permanent, stable source of funding for Outdoor School. More than 200 businesses and organizations have already signed on to endorse and support Outdoor School for All, ranging for small local retailers and manufacturers in rural communities to major corporation such as Nike, Columbia Sportswear, REI and Leatherman.
Governor Brown also recently endorsed Measure 99 saying, “There’s no better way to develop a bond with our natural environment than spending time outdoors…While I support the measure, I will preserve funding for important economic development programs currently funded by the lottery.”
According to Tom Kelly, president of Neil Kelly Remodeling, businesses that support Measure 99 understand the important short and long term economic benefits that Outdoor School offers.
“If anyone understands strong return on investments, it’s local businesses. The proven positive outcomes of Outdoor School for education and student success resonate strongly with the business community,” said Kelly. “That’s why many of Oregon’s most respected and forward thinking companies have recognized the tremendous value that funding Outdoor School for every child in the state will have for the next generation and Oregon’s future.”
