By Charlie Laughtland
BDA Blog editor

During last month’s National Park Week, Nature Valley and the National Parks Conservation Association kicked off the 2011 “Preserve the Parks” campaign.

As part of the project, Nature Valley will contribute up to $500,000 to the NPCA through the National Parks Project. Nature Valley is making a $400,000 flat donation to the NPCA and will donate up to $100,000 more when consumers enter their UPCs from specially marked packages online, through October 31, 2011. Funds from the five-month Preserve the Parks campaign will focus on projects in six U.S. national parks.

The campaign received a boost in the form of a celebrity endorsement from Josh Holloway of "Lost" fame. After publicizing the program in TV interviews, the actor joined volunteers to restore an area outside Joshua Tree National Park.

Although the work was dirty—trash was removed and water flow was restored—Holloway and the other volunteers stayed cool and dry while sporting BDA-produced campaign organic cotton T-shirts. BDA produced 600 adult and 100 youth T-shirts on behalf of campaign sponsor Nature Valley.

“There’s nothing I love more than being outside and exploring the incredible beauty of our national parks,” Holloway said in a release. “However, the parks are facing huge challenges and that’s why I’m excited to be partnering with Nature Valley to help raise awareness and funds for the preservation of our national parks.”

Learn more about Preserve the Parks projects and make a donation to NPCA.

Connect with Preserve the Parks on Facebook.