Patagonia made more than $10 million on Black Friday this year, so as the company stated they would before the biggest shopping day of the year they are donating the entire sum to grassroots environmental groups that are under the radar, underfunded, and do great work to save the world and combat climate change every day despite those limitations. The double-digit millions raised in Patagonia’s so-called “fundraiser for the Earth” hauled in more than five times the money the company anticipated, no doubt helped by a certain President Elect’s insistence that climate change is a hoax and the news that the EPA might not make it through the next four years of American government.
A company spokesman even admitted that the idea for this year’s Black Friday campaign was inspired by Donald Trump’s win on November 8th. Corley Kenna told The Huffington Post,
“We felt that these were issues that united us and I think this is a demonstration that people agree. Our customers agree.”
The campaign isn’t the first environmentally-geared initiative from Patagonia, as 1% of their global sales every day go towards similar groups and causes. The retailer also released an official statement about the success of their sales and why they decided to donate such a massive cash deposit
“The science is telling us loud and clear: We have a problem. By getting active in communities, we can raise our voices to defend policies and regulations that will protect wild places and wildlife, reduce carbon emissions, build a modern energy economy based on investment in renewables, and, most crucially, ensure the United States remains fully committed to the vital goals set forth in the Paris Agreement on climate change.”
The heightened awareness about climate change and the need for government action may not be due to positive world events but the fact that so much money was raised for these groups is at least a sign that there are thousands upon thousands of consumers out there who care deeply about making sure the environment is around for our children and our children’s children.
(via The Huffington Post)
