Hello Everyone,
Last week we featured information on the Patagonia
sponsored Salmon Run. Today we have a recap of the event from our friend Daniel
Torres who is an avid runner, brilliant writer and good friend of ours. He has
been kind enough to share an account of his experience from last weekend’s 5k
Run. We also received information from Marcela Rioja, an important staff member
from Patagonia who has provided us with more information about Patagonia’s
relationship with SOAR, other non-profits, and also about upcoming events.
Q & A
with Marcela Riojas
How do you choose
a donation beneficiary?
In most years we have chosen a handful of potential
beneficiaries that fit the realm of protecting our local watershed and have
asked them to tell us why they deserve to be the beneficiary of the run; then
as a team we choose the one that we feel is the best fit for the event and has
the greatest need. This year was a bit different. We saw a huge opportunity to
help SOAR and this was the perfect year to do that.
How did you choose
SOAR as this year's donation beneficiary?
For the past few years, the Salmon Run has been part of
the SOAR Trail Run Series (a series of 5 runs in Ventura County). The series
disbanded this year and the Salmon Run is the only one of those five runs that
is left standing. This is our 22nd year!
In addition the SOAR initiative is set to expire in 2020
and the 2016 election is its best chance to renew the initiative. The SOAR initiative requires the vote of the
people of Ventura County before agricultural land or open space areas can be
rezoned for development. This run will help set the stage for the push needed
to get this initiative on the ballot, so that they people can vote to renew it.
SOAR will be up against a lot of money, from outside the county and state,
whose interest is in developing the open spaces left in Ventura County. SOAR
will need 84,000 signatures to get this initiative on the 2016 ballot. They
will be asking people to sign up to volunteer to gather signatures in the next
few months. It will take a lot of boots on the ground to get this done and they
don’t use outside, paid petition gatherers. These signatures will be gathered
by the citizens of Ventura County. We are excited to help them launch this
important work.
What other
non-profits do you work closely with?
In the past we have supported Los Padres ForestWatch, Cal
Trout, Friends of the Santa Clara River and The Matilija Coalition for the
Salmon Run. We also partner with many other local non-profits such as Santa
Barbara Channelkeeper and Surfrider Foundation. Each year, Patagonia pledges 1%
of net sales to environmental non-profits in addition to providing volunteer
support to many of these groups. Last year, that amount totaled $6.2 million in
donations and 10,424 in volunteer support.
What are you
hoping to achieve this year as opposed to last year?
Each year is unique unto itself and relates directly to
the group of choice. This year we are hoping to make the Salmon Run a bit
bigger with more runners. Part of the reason we chose SOAR is because they are
looking not only financial support (as the beneficiary) but also to bring more
people into their campaign to raise the awareness and get out there to gather
signatures. Seemed like a perfect fit.
What do you want
people to take away from this specific experience?
Our hope is that SOAR is able to sign up an army of
volunteers. They will need it to get 84,000 signatures! We also allow other
local environmental groups to table at the run. It’s an opportunity for the
runners to see the great environmental work happening in Ventura County and
give them an opportunity to align with those that are of interest to them.
What other
upcoming events/programs is Patagonia is working on?
Our latest campaign is called
“Jumbo Wild” and we are looking for folks to sign a petition to stop a resort
development from going in the Jumbo Valley in British Columbia.
Salmon Run
Recap by Daniel Torres
As I was racing the Patagonia Salmon run over this past
weekend I remembered something that I had not heard in many years. “To give
anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift”. Maybe it was the
atmosphere of running on a dirt trail, or that this particular race was meant
to benefit and raise awareness for a non-profit called SOAR but it seems the
truth behind that statement is applicable to any facet of life. As a runner it
certainly is convenient to have treadmills and 24 hour gyms, but there is no
equivalent to trail running. Something that I think we take for granted here in
Ventura County.
Getting out there
bright and early in the morning and seeing a large collection of people ranging
from barely 8 or 9 to the fifties and sixties is a great sight. Running is a
great sport. Running will get people together to do something more. Sure there
are other sports that hold charity events and donate proceeds. The great thing
about being involved in a race like this is that the competitors are the contributors.
We didn’t get up to watch other people run, we ran. In one large group, all
united temporarily for the same cause. Keeping Ventura County green.
Before the race
began there was time to pick up the race packets and peruse the parking lot, which
was staged with several booths relating the same heartfelt sentiment. Let’s
protect what we have now, doing the best that we can. People are there donating
their time, energy, money and information to something they believe is worth
the investment. Granted I had never heard of SOAR until I registered for this
race. After a little research of my own, I am incredibly grateful for this
organization. Not only as a runner, but as a resident of Ventura County.
Their ability to
get citizens involved in keeping the open spaces open and the farmland safe
from some new housing or shopping development is incredible. They have been
protecting this land for nearly twenty years and in doing so, protecting the
environment around us and for our progeny. Something I think we can all agree
is worth fighting for. Worth giving our best for.
Patagonia has
partnered with SOAR and been putting this event on for 22 years and it seemed
like the right time to make SOAR the beneficiary. The SOAR initiative is set to
expire in 2020 and the opportunity to generate funds, gather a larger support
base, spread the word, and ultimately have the initiative renewed is now. The
2016 election is the time to do it because the need for volunteers has never
been higher. One of the requirements is no less than 84,000 signatures just to
get this on the ballot. By making SOAR the focal point of this year’s event,
money will be raised and awareness can be spread. Over the years Patagonia has
promoted many non-profits in an effort to protect this county. Some of those
include Los Padres ForestWatch, California Trout, Friends of the Santa Clara
River and the Matilija Coalition.
Each of these
non-profits would benefit greatly from widespread exposure. What’s great is
that by helping these organizations, we are working to secure these measures
for ourselves and our children. So check them out online or visit one of their
offices and let’s do something good.
