OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – March 27, 2012 – The President's Elite are among Ducks Unlimited's most prestigious volunteer chapters throughout the nation. Every year, the list is reserved for the chapters that raise $100,000 or more for DU's habitat conservation work. This past fall, the South Johnson County Chapter made the list as one of the organization's best fundraising chapters.

"These fundraising events are the backbone of DU's habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the grassroots force making a difference for North American waterfowl populations," said DU President John Newman. "It takes a great deal of effort to achieve the President's Elite level, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors."

The South Johnson County chapter earned a spot in the President's Elite out of the more than 2,700 DU chapters nationwide. DU's event fundraising system has long been a model for other conservation organizations around the world and has funded a significant portion of the more than 12 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat DU has conserved since 1937.

This year's President's Elite chapters also have the distinction of being honored during DU's 75th Anniversary year, celebrated with special events and wetland project dedications nationwide. The President's Elite will be recognized during DU's 75th National Convention in Nashville at the end of May, with many chapter representatives in attendance.

"DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our drinking water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities," Newman 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 President's Elite chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters next year."

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

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