“Individually we are one drop, but together we are an ocean.” — Ryunosuke Satoro
TTF is able to achieve our mission of improving the health and vitality of the TTF watershed not only with staff, volunteers, Board members, and friends but also through the help of dedicated partners.
Our special team of partners in the TTF Partner Alliance are a vital part of our efforts towards educating neighbors and stakeholders about clean water issues and how we can all make a difference in our own backyards, parks, and communities.
This group of dozens of local businesses demonstrate their commitment to our clean water work through a year-long sponsorship. In return, they receive marketing and promotional perks, as well as invitations to our annual networking events and awards ceremony.
We are beginning a new blog segment in which we interview and highlight some of our hardworking Partner Alliance members who are committed to TTF’s clean water work.
First up, REI!
What is your mission and focus? What are you best known for, and is there something your business does that you wish more people knew about?
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) is a member-owned cooperative that views a life outdoors as a life well-lived! We believe that it’s in the wild, untamed, and natural places that we find our best selves, so our purpose is to awaken a lifelong love of the outdoors, for all. Since 1938, we’ve been working to help you experience the transformational power of nature. We bring you top-quality gear and apparel, expert advice, rental equipment, inspiring stories of life outside, and outdoor experiences to enjoy alone or share with your friends and family.
One thing that sets us apart as a retailer is our reinvestment in people, the planet, and our communities. Annually, more than 70 percent of our annual profits are invested back into the outdoor community through dividends to REI members, employee profit-sharing and retirement, and investments in nonprofits dedicated to the outdoors.
Why is TTF’s clean water work important to your organization? Is there a particular focus of ours that resonates with your organization?
We admire the work that TTF is doing to care for our local waterways and educate our community on how to keep them clean and accessible for everyone. REI is passionate about protecting and conserving the planet for generations to come and although this seems like a daunting task at times, it starts at the local level with people and organizations like TTF that take action to make a difference.
Besides being a Partner Alliance member, have you collaborated with TTF in other ways (such as volunteering, tree planting, and other events, or programs)? Tell us about it — was it a valuable experience?
TTF has tabled and presented its work to staff at our Conshohocken/Plymouth Meeting store. We tabled at TTF’s 3 exciting Block Parties in Tacony Creek Park in June 2022. Our staff talked to a lot of community residents about REI and had a lot of fun! We’re always looking for new stewardship projects to join in on. We’re excited to see what TTF has in store and how we can support their efforts in waterway conservation!
4) What’s new with your organization? Is there any news or opportunities you’d like to share with TTF’s community?
In 2021, we founded the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-supported nonprofit that partners with and provides financial support for organizations building a new outdoor culture and improving the health and well-being of all people. The fund focuses on three main initiatives: connecting people outside, creating space outside, and centering health outside. In its debut year, the cooperative action fund raised $5,875,568 in contributions that were distributed across 31 grantees. We’re very excited to spread the word about this new initiative and the impact it’s having on our local communities.
Learn more about REI and its story here, and find out what you can do to make a difference with the REI Cooperative Action Fund by advocating for policies that protect the outdoors, for everyone.
We are grateful to businesses like REI, and individuals who sponsor the work of TTF as members of the Partner Alliance!
Interested in advancing TTF’s clean water work like REI? View our current Partner Alliance members here, and learn about the membership levels and benefits here.
If you have any questions, contact Emilie Wetzel at emilie@ttfwatershed.org.
Join our wonderful family of Partner Alliance members today!
