Although many companies within Europe already had their own programmes of giving to support environmental projects, this was a chance to harness the collective power of the industry to put money directly into grassroots projects and make a tangible difference to threatened wild areas, species and habitats. Building on the model used by the Conservation Alliance in the United States, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009, boasted over 170 members and had raised funding of over $7.5 million since its inception, the European Outdoor Group, which founded the Association, decided it must be possible to achieve something similar within the European outdoor industry.
From a standing start and in just 15 years - the EOCA has funded 141 projects, in 54 countries, to the tune of nearly €4 million! Just a drop in the ocean, you might say? But that drop keeps growing bigger, every time a new member joins.
