SmartWool Corporation (best know for its hiking socks) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has included the Pacific Crest Trail Association among its first round of Advocacy Program grant recipients. SmartWool's Advocacy Program was born out of the outdoor gear company's desire to give back to the community in which it customers and employees work and play. Grant recipients were chosen by SmartWool employees who looked for organizations that represented their passions as well as the attributes of the SmartWool brand. "We feel very fortunate to have the support of the outdoor community," says Chip Coe, SmartWool President, "and we are committed to helping that community grow and thrive."

The PCTA will use its SmartWool Advocacy Program grant to help support its new regional representative position (in Northern California and Southern Oregon) and to increase volunteerism for a 500-mile section of trail. "We thank SmartWool for their support," says PCTA Executive Director, Liz Bergeron, "This grant will really help us to establish a new chapter in the Northern California/Southern Oregon region and to bolster our ongoing trail maintenance efforts. We appreciate SmartWool's financial support and know that our volunteers will love the donation of SmartWool socks." For more information about SmartWool, their Advocacy Program, and their wool-base apparel, socks, and accessories visit www.smartwool.com