Four of the state’s Ducks Unlimited chapters have earned the organization’s, top fundraising honors for 2017.
The Benton County Chapter, in Bentonville, earned Chairman’s Roll of Honor recognition, reserved for chapters raising between $250,000 and $999,999.
The Stuttgart Chapter was named to the list of President’s Elite chapters raising between $100,000 and $249,999.
The Central Arkansas chapter in Little Rock and the Mississippi County chapter in Osceola earned President’s Roll of Honor distinction for raising between $65,000 and $99,9999.
“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force making a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” Ducks Unlimited President Rogers Hoyt Jr. said. “It takes a great deal of effort to achieve these levels of distinction, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”
The chapters honored earned their spots on the nationally recognized lists out of more than 2,400 Ducks Unlimited chapters nationwide that hosted more than 4,050 fundraising events. The event fundraising system is a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has conserved more than 14 million acres of waterfowl habitat since 1937.
The organization will additionally honor some chapters at the 81st Ducks Unlimited National Convention in Indianapolis, May 29-June 3, with several chapter representatives attending.
“DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities,” Hoyt said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our top chapters for their achievements and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters next year.”
