NEW YORK, April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During the third annual Camp Jeep(R) New York, the Jeep brand raised $16,470 for the "Tigers Forever" initiative, a Panthera project in collaboration with the New York based Wildlife Conservation Society. The goal of the project is to increase the number of tigers in key areas of the world by 50 percent over the next decade. The money raised at Camp Jeep New York will be used to directly support WCS's "Tigers Forever" initiative, which involves a wide array of activities ranging from monitoring tiger and prey population dynamics to community education and outreach. "We are very excited to have the Jeep brand in support of our conservation efforts," said Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, Executive Director for Science and Exploration for the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Every dollar raised brings us one step closer to achieving our goal of increasing the tiger population and the Camp Jeep donation will help us tremendously." The Jeep brand pledged to donate $5 to the "Tigers Forever" project for every person who took a ride on the Jeep Trail Rated(R) Test Track at Camp Jeep New York on April 14. A total of 3,294 passengers rode the track, which included water fording, ground clearance, articulation, and traction and maneuverability demonstrations, to raise $16,470. More than 220 yards of dirt and mulch were used to create the test track, all of which will be recycled and returned back to the original source. Overall, more than 29,375 consumers, an increase of 10 percent, experienced the legendary capability of Jeep 4x4s at Camp Jeep New York. "Camp Jeep is designed to show off the world's most capable 4x4 vehicles and the lifestyle that goes with them," said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications. "We're thrilled that thousands of people were able to experience that lifestyle on the Jeep Trail Rated Test Track, while simultaneously supporting the Wildlife Conservation Society's 'Tigers Forever' project." In addition to raising money for "Tigers Forever," Camp Jeep New York also awarded Matthew McCarthy of Forrest Hills, New York, an all-expense paid trip with his family to Camp Jeep Virginia, the annual three-day mix of off-road driving and other family-oriented outdoor activities. McCarthy was the 500,000th person to take a ride on a Chrysler Group auto show test drive course since the auto show test drive program began in 2004. About Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild lands. WCS does so through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together, these activities change individual attitudes toward nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in sustainable interaction on both a local and a global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it essential to the integrity of life on Earth. To address the ongoing 'tiger crisis' across Asia, the Wildlife Conservation Society, in collaboration with Panthera, has created an action plan called "Tigers Forever" to ensure that tigers remain in the wild forever. This program is founded on an ambitious plan to increase tiger numbers across key WCS sites by 50 percent over the next ten years. For more information about please visit http://www.wcs.org/tigersforever. About the Jeep Brand The Jeep brand's 66-year history of legendary capability has made it synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and authenticity. In 2007, the Jeep brand delivers on its promise to provide rugged, versatile, innovative four-wheel drive vehicles with seven vehicles that will "go anywhere and do anything, including the all-new Jeep Patriot, Compass, Liberty, Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee and Commander. DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT: Lisa Barrow, +1-877-840-3278, , or Carrie McElwee, +1-248-512-2664, , both of Chrysler Group Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/ http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/ http://www.wcs.org/tigersforever Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/107608.html

Copyright