Eastwood Asks Fellow Seniors to Help Improve Public Recreational Areas

Aug. 18, 2005 – Senior citizens interested in finding a way to contribute something back to America may want to heed the advice from fellow senior Clint Eastwood and volunteer for Take Pride in America, a program that improves public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas.

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Oscar winning director, actor, and California State Parks Commissioner Eastwood recently took time from his busy schedule to repeat his role as Take Pride in America's National Spokesman, urging all Americans to get involved as volunteers on public lands. Yesterday the Take Pride program is released a new set of Clint Eastwood public service announcements.

Eastwood's first Take Pride messages in 1987 involved a "Dirty Harry"-style message of "Bad Guys Abuse Public Lands, Good Guys Save It." Eastwood's current message of "It's Your Land, Lend a Hand" encourages Americans to care for public lands, whether in their own neighborhoods or in national parks and forests.

"I am very happy to help further the mission of Take Pride in America. It was a cause I supported when it was first launched 20 years ago, and the message of caring for our public lands is one that I continue to support," said Eastwood.

The 30, 15, and 10 second spots heighten public awareness that Americans share a special legacy of public lands covering one out of every three acres of the nation. From city parks to beaches and byways, citizen stewardship begins with responsible use of these lands and extends to volunteer efforts such as trail maintenance, litter clean-ups, wetlands and habitat restoration, visitor center hosts and many more activities.

In addition to the campaign's TV and radio spots, print PSAs will be available for magazines and newspapers nationwide. Information on the campaign is available at www.funoutdoors.com.

The PSA production was done in Carmel, California, where Eastwood and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Take Pride in America Executive Director Marti Allbright joined students from Carmel River School in a wetlands restoration project. That school was named the first Take Pride in America School following its agreement to participate in public land projects several times annually. The wetlands restoration project also involved the California State Parks staff and the California Conservation Corps.

Take Pride in America®, part of the Department of the Interior, is a national partnership program that encourages, supports and recognizes volunteers who work to improve our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas. With more than 100 Charter Partners, Take Pride involves Federal, state and local governments; conservation, youth and recreation groups; and top national corporations and organizations. Together, we protect and enhance the special legacy all Americans share - our public lands that cover more than one in every three acres across the Nation.

For more information on the Take Pride in America program visit the website at www.TakePride.gov.

About Take Price in America

Take Pride in America is a national partnership established by the U.S. Department of the Interior that aims to engage, support and recognize volunteers who work to improve our public parks, forests, grasslands, wildlife refuges, cultural and historical sites, local playgrounds and other recreation areas. Together we protect and enhance the special legacy all Americans share — our public lands that cover more than one in every three acres across the Nation.

Take Pride in America consists of Federal, state, and local governments; conservation, youth, and recreation groups; national corporations, organizations, and individuals, dedicated to instilling a sense of volunteerism and good stewardship in all public land users. Take Pride in America looks to encourage individuals to take a more active role by volunteering… “It’s your land, lend a hand.”

The Mission

Awareness: increase the public’s sense of responsibility for public resources

Action: invite the public to help maintain and enhance our shared spaces

Awards: honor individual and group volunteers for outstanding work in public lands

The History

In 1985 Interior Secretary Donald Hodel recognized a growing problem with vandalism and looting of historical artifacts on public lands. He knew that there was too much land for Federal enforcement personnel to combat the problem alone. Hodel developed Take Pride in America as the solution, turning the stewardship of public lands back to its owners – the public.