HOUSTON, Texas - March 29, 2018 - Ducks Unlimited recently announced the top fundraising chapters of 2017 across the nation. Texas had chapters in three categories: Chairman's Roll of Honor, President's Elite and President's Roll of Honor.

The Chairman's Roll of Honor designation is reserved for the chapters that raised between $250,000 and $999,999. Chapters that raised between $100,000 and $249,999 were named as President's Elite chapters. Rounding out the three categories, President's Roll of Honor chapters raised between $65,000 and $99,999.

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

This year, four Texas chapters made the Chairman's Roll of Honor. They include:
Houston Chapter, Houston
Galveston Chapter, Galveston
San Antonio Chapter, San Antonio
Aggieland Chapter, College Station.

This year's 11 President's Elite chapters from Texas include:
Ellis County Chapter, Waxahachie
Austin Chapter, Austin
Fort Bend County Chapter, Richmond-Rosenberg
Katy-Brookshire Chapter, Katy
Dallas Chapter, Dallas
Corpus Christi Chapter, Corpus Christi
Big Thicket Chapter, Cleveland
Denton Chapter, Denton
Midland Chapter, Midland
Corsicana Chapter, Corsicana
Navasota Chapter, Navasota.

The following 19 Texas chapters made the President's Roll of Honor:
Ft. Worth Chapter, Fort Worth
Mexia Chapter, Mexia
Tomball Chapter, Spring
Lee County Chapter, Giddings
Bellaire Chapter, Bellaire
Georgetown Chapter, Georgetown
Lake Lewisville Chapter, Lake Lewisville
Victoria Chapter, Victoria
Brazos Valley Chapter, Bryan-College Station
Weatherford Chapter, Weatherford
Whitehouse Chapter, Whitehouse
Shelby County Chapter, Center
Winnie-Stowell Chapter, Winnie Stowell
Dripping Springs Chapter, Dripping Springs
San Jacinto Chapter, Conroe
New Braunfels Chapter, New Braunfels
Texoma Chapter, Denison-Sherman
La Grange Chapter, La Grange
Allen Chapter, Allen.

The chapters honored this year earned their spots on the nationally recognized lists out of more than 2,400 DU chapters nationwide that hosted more than 4,050 fundraising events. DU's event fundraising system is a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has conserved more than 14 million acres of waterfowl habitat since 1937.

Some chapters will also have the distinction of being honored during DU's 81st National Convention in Indianapolis, May 29 - June 3, 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 water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities," Hoyt 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 top chapters for their achievements and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters next year."

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 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. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.