Timberland sponsors Green Apple Festival in 10 U.S. cities for Earth Day 2009

Timberland today announced that it is a presenting sponsor of the nationwide Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network events over Earth Day Weekend, April 17 to 19. The simultaneous national series of volunteer activities will be coordinated in ten U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Now in its fourth year, the Green Apple Festival began in New York City as an environmental and music event and has grown to become the country’s largest coordinated and interactive Festival dedicated to observing and preserving the environment. From its origins in 2006 as a New York City event, through last year’s expansion to eight cities with an overall attendance of 200,000, organizers now will present an impactful series of community projects in ten cities to unite individuals, families and civic leaders in making greener life choices and stemming the tide of climate change. Green Apple Festival was founded by executive producer Peter Shapiro and Zenbu Media, a music media company. Since 2007, Green Apple Festival has worked closely in partnership with Earth Day Network.

The weekend of activity and service will culminate on Sunday, April 19 with free nighttime “Thank You Concerts” for volunteers at popular music venues in each participating city. In Washington DC, “Earth Day on the National Mall” will be a free Festival, open to volunteers and the public that will feature performances and speakers throughout the day.

To encourage the use of alternative transportation in Washington DC, Timberland will also sponsor free pedicab rides around the National Mall area before, during and after Earth Day Weekend. Timberland-branded pedicabs will be free to Green Apple volunteers, tourists and pedestrians April 15 to 21. Timberland will also sponsor the Timberland Bike Valet at the National Mall on April 19, which will allow Festivalgoers and Green Apple volunteers to safely park their bicycles in a secure area. Bike riders will receive a complimentary tune-up while they enjoy the afternoon’s live music and activities.

“Timberland encourages everyone to take this opportunity to make a difference on Earth Day, and every day,” said Theresa Palermo, Timberland’s Senior Director of U.S. Marketing. “We have always strived to be a part of the communities in which we work and do business, and we’re proud to partner with Green Apple Festival and Earth Day Network, two organizations that have the same appreciation for their neighbors and the environment.”

In concert with its Green Apple Festival activities, Timberland will be launching an interactive “Earthkeeper Contest” on March 30 at www.timberland.com/greenapple. Participants will be asked to submit online entries about their efforts to promote environmental sustainability, and two winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip and guided “eco-tour” through the forests of Darwin, Australia. Please go to www.timberland.com/greenapple on March 30 for a complete copy of the contest rules.

Timberland’s sponsorship of Green Apple Festival is one example in a long history of environmental stewardship, both in its business operations as well as in the design of its products. Over more than 20 years Timberland employees around the world have used more than 300,000 hours of Path of Service(TM) time to take care of the environment through individual efforts or through global service events like Earth Day or Serv-a-palooza. The company has also developed an industry-leading product labeling initiative using a Nutritional Label and Green Index(TM) rating to help promote transparency for consumers about the environmental impact of the product they’re buying. In 2008, Timberland launched its online Earthkeeper Network (www.earthkeeper.com), using social media to engage like-minded consumers in discussion and action related to preserving the environment. At the store level, all new Timberland(R) retail stores are built with the environment in mind, using recycled or reclaimed materials throughout; paints without harmful VOCs; and other environmentally-conscious solutions.

For more information, visit www.earthday.net and www.greenapplefestival.com.