MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Sept. 1, 2021 - Following another successful fundraising year, choosing Ducks Unlimited (DU) Regional Director and Director of Development of the Year is always challenging. After careful deliberation, Jarrett Lafferty and James Roberts were honored for their fundraising efforts. Also recognized this year for outstanding achievement is Senior Director of Fundraising and Stewardship, Tammy Parisotto.

Lafferty serves as DU regional director (RD) for North Florida and Southeast Georgia. In fiscal year 2021 (FY21), he helped raised more than $1 million, earning Lafferty membership in the prestigious DU Green Jacket Club. He was the top RD in several categories, including percentage growth in budget and regional income. He also achieved a record $780,000 in budget income growth, which put Lafferty on the DU fundraising Elite Performance Roundtable.

As Senior director of development for DU&squo;s Great Lakes/Atlantic Region covering Illinois and Indiana, Roberts secured more than $2.2 million in donations and more than $2.4 million in major giving commitments. Roberts was also an instrumental member of a team responsible for a significant conservation easement commitment. Roberts more than doubled his FY21 goals while continuing his streak of three consecutive years of raising more than $1 million in donations. He also secured a $1 million gift for science and research, aiding the DU science team.

As Senior Director of Fundraising and Stewardship, Parisotto is responsible for DU&squo;s non-event fundraising campaigns. This year those campaigns raised a record $3.5 million for DU&squo;s highest priorities. Parisotto credits strong partnerships with DU&squo;s direct response team, the digital media team and others across the organization for helping her succeed.

"Ducks Unlimited&squo;s fundraising success is a true team effort,&dquo; said DU Chief Fundraising Officer Amy Batson. "Volunteer and staff partnerships across the continent are the backbone of the DU fundraising machine. The success achieved during FY21, especially in the face of many challenges, is proof of each team member&squo;s commitment. James, Jarrett and Tammy exemplify this spirit of partnership in their professional and personal commitments to DU. I am excited to extend my congratulations to them and proud to serve with them on the DU fundraising team.&dquo;

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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 15 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.

Media Contact:

John Gordon

901-758-3753

jgordon@ducks.org