Local Take Pride Affiliate Receives National Thanks

LAS VEGAS -The Take Pride in America® Program, a national partnership established by the U.S. Department of Interior, has awarded UNLV’s Public Lands Institute a Certificate of Appreciation for its contribution to the nationwide effort. The Public Lands Institute, through its Southern Nevada Take Pride in America Program, was one of 16 contributors to Take Pride’s Public Service Announcement campaign featuring actor, director, and conservationist Clint Eastwood.

In May 2005, the national organization began an ambitious effort to create a campaign to help spread the word on volunteerism and motivate people to respond to the many volunteer opportunities presented on its website. The Public Lands Institute joined with such contributors as the American Recreation Coalition and the Walt Disney Company to provide funding for the filming, production, and distribution of the PSAs.

In the letter accompanying the certificate, Take Pride Executive Director Marti Allbright noted that the Public Lands Institute’s “generous contribution made this broad, sweeping public outreach campaign a reality.” She thanked the institute “for the dedication shown to the Take Pride mission.”

The Public Lands Institute provided $12,500 in funding from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. “The local Take Pride affiliate saw this as an excellent opportunity to show our commitment to the national effort,” said Nancy Flagg, director of the Public Lands Institute. “However, it was also an important first step to introduce our relatively new program to the community. We were fortunate to have Mr. Eastwood personalize the message for Nevada.”

The PSAs began airing this fall on television, radio, and print media outlets nationwide. The UNLV Public Affairs Office secured agreements to have the Southern Nevada Take Pride PSAs air on the local NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates; Cox Cable; and local channels CCTV, KCVB, and UNLV-TV.

Take Pride in America® 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. To participate in local Take Pride events, visit www.getoutdoorsnevada.org.