(Virginia Beach, Virginia) – STIHL Inc. continued its longtime work with environmentally conscious organizations with its sponsorship of the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund's (TREE Fund) 2008 Tour des Trees and the International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) International Tree Climbing Championship, both held the weekend of July 26 in St. Louis, Mo.
"STIHL has earned incredible respect among arborists and other tree care professionals thanks to their high-quality products, and the support of a leader in the industry like STIHL brings additional recognition to our work," said Janet Bornancin, executive director of the TREE Fund. The Tour des Trees, the signature annual fundraiser of the TREE Fund, is a cross-country cycling and tree-planting event. This year's 6-day ride ended in St. Louis, Mo. on July 26, and raised more than $287,000 in support of tree research and education.
During the two-day International Tree Climbing Championship, sponsored in part by STIHL, two-time world champion and STIHL spokesman Mark Chisholm finished in first place on the first day and took 3rd place overall. This was Chisholm's 18th year in the competition, and his 15th top-five finish. He also held his world record of 13.8 seconds in the secured footlock climb.
Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones, STIHL spokesman and an award-winning tree farmer, was awarded honorary membership in the ISA at this year's conference. Leavell's conservation work on Charlane Plantation, his 2,000-acre tree farm in Georgia, has earned he and his wife, Rose Lane, national recognition as the Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in 1999. Leavell has authored three books: "Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest," "Between Rock and a Home Place," and the award-winning children's book "The Tree Farmer."
"We are proud to support the work of organizations like the TREE Fund and the ISA not only in sponsorship of their environmental stewardship, but also in providing low-emission, environmentally responsible tools that professionals and consumers can feel good about using on the job and at home," said Anita Gambill, representative for STIHL Inc. "The STIHL product line features some of the best available technologies and some of the cleanest running outdoor power equipment available today."
STIHL invests considerable resources in making energy-efficient products that minimize the impact on the environment and is committed to developing powerful, fuel-efficient outdoor power equipment while using production practices that are environmentally responsible. A recent test of the fuel-efficiency of the low-emission STIHL BR 550 backpack blowers by a North Carolina landscaping company found that they could pay for the cost of the new fuel-efficient line with the fuel savings alone in two years.
For more information on STIHL support of environmentally responsible efforts, please visit www.stihlusa.com/green.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at http://www.stihlusa.com/.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to http://www.stihlcareers.com/. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
