MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation rolls into its 30th year of existence fresh off a fifth consecutive year of record membership, the unveiling of a new endowment to boost its core mission programs and having topped 6.4 million acres of land protected or enhanced.
“There’s no doubt that 2013 was an incredible year for us, perhaps one of the best ever,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We are so grateful to our volunteers and members because their dedication and commitment to elk, elk country and conservation made it all possible.”
2013 highlights:
- Enhanced or protected 112,760 acres of land toward an overall lifetime mark of more than 6.4 million acres
- Opened or secured access to 62,027 acres toward an overall lifetime mark of more than 707,000 acres
- Completed 562 projects bringing lifetime number of projects to 8,651
- Unveiled $30 million Torstenson Family Endowment to further core mission programs of permanent land protection, habitat stewardship, elk restoration and hunting heritage
- Restored a wild elk herd to Missouri
- Fueled continuing elk restoration project in Virginia
- Recorded fifth straight year of record membership, now at 203,703
- Provided 357 grants in 44 states for hunting heritage and conservation outreach, directly reaching more than 184,000 children and adults
- Maintained the highest rating of 4 stars from Charity Navigator, America’s top charity ratings service
- Announced 100 percent of revenue from national convention tags to be awarded to individual states to benefit wildlife conservation
- Topped 100,000 Facebook followers
With scores of on-the-ground conservation projects planned or already in the works across the nation, hundreds of local banquets and fundraisers scheduled in the coming months, and the unveiling of an exciting, new RMEF endeavor later this year, expectations are soaring for 2014.
“We recognize RMEF’s 30th anniversary as the ‘Year of the Volunteer’ and we’re working with a full-speed-ahead mentality to accelerate our mission like never before,” added Allen. “We also look forward to capping off 2014 at Elk Camp in early December when we unveil the new Hunter Christmas Exposition in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo.”
– RMEF
