HUMMER and Tread Lightly! Launch Restoration Effort at Mendocino National Forest's North Fork Campground STONYFORD, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The national nonprofit organization Tread Lightly!(R) and General Motors' HUMMER division announced Saturday a new initiative aimed at repairing damage caused by the 2001 "Trough Fire" at the North Fork Campground in the Mendocino National Forest. The organizations have committed over $20,000 to assist with the rehabilitation of the area. The project is part of HUMMER Helps, an ongoing initiative with Tread Lightly!'s Restoration for Recreation(TM) program aimed at promoting socially responsible four-wheeling by enhancing recreational areas and educating the public about responsible outdoor use. HUMMER and Tread Lightly! launched the new initiative at a groundbreaking ceremony at the North Fork Campground near California's Sacramento Valley. "The North Fork area is crucial to Northern California's recreational community," said Mike DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager. "This initiative will help repair significant damage caused by the fire and restore basic resources that support the activities that make this site so popular. We're proud to be part of such a worthy effort that not only benefits the four- wheeling community, but outdoor enthusiasts of every kind." The North Fork Campground is a vital component of the Fout Springs Off- Highway Vehicle recreation complex, one of the most popular OHV destinations in Northern California -- boasting about 70,000 visitors a year. The "Trough Fire" caused significant damage to trees, vegetation and infrastructure of the site. Recreation activities in the area include all-terrain-vehicle riding, 4-wheeling, horseback riding,backpacking, biking, hang gliding, water activities and camping. Community volunteers, local dignitaries, GM and Tread Lightly! employees and various charitable organizations gathered to launch the initiative and participate in a day-long tree-planting and cleanup event hosted by the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a national nonprofit organization that promotes and protects responsible off-highway recreation. The four-month restoration project is scheduled for completion in late August and will involve: *Construction of a new Americans with Disabilities Act-approved restroom facility with a barrier-free walkway * Removal of fire-ravaged hazardous trees and re-vegetation * Reconstruction of the pedestrian swimming/fishing access trail * Replacing area picnic tables * Construction of an interpretive bulletin board emphasizing responsible outdoor recreation "Our momentum with our Restoration for Recreation program is surging," said Lori Davis, Tread Lightly!'s executive director. "The North Fork project will mark a major victory in our quest to help alleviate the backlog of needed maintenance on some of the nation's favorite recreational sites." Last October, Tread Lightly! received a $100,000 endowment from HUMMER to signify the launch of HUMMER Helps. The annual endowment is administered as a grant giving initiative to select outdoor enthusiast clubs who are Tread Lightly! members and have pinpointed recreational areas in need. The HUMMER Helps program was created to recognize HUMMER owners who have utilized their vehicle's capability for acts of humanity, and to sustain the lands where outdoor enthusiasts enjoy off-highway activities. Based in Ogden, Utah, Tread Lightly! is a nonprofit organization that is an ethical and educational force among outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. Tread Lightly! carries out programs designed to instill a proactive, low-impact message among enthusiasts, manufacturers, advertising agencies, the media and children of all ages. DATASOURCE: HUMMER CONTACT: Monica Sheffield of Tread Lightly!, +1-800-966-9900; or Matt Banchek of HUMMER Communications, +1-248-458-8375 Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/

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