Chain Saw Manufacturer Signs Three-Year Agreement to Support America’s Largest Fundraiser for Tree Research

(VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.) – STIHL Inc., manufacturer of the nation’s number one selling brand of outdoor power equipment,* returns for the fourth year as the title sponsor for the 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees, and has committed as title sponsor of the event through 2014. This year marks the company’s eleventh year of sponsorship of the Tour, which just completed a record-breaking fundraising campaign to benefit the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund.

“STIHL’s leadership, coupled with the support of our other sponsors and the dedication of our cyclists, made it possible for the STIHL Tour des Trees to raise an unprecedented half-million dollars for the TREE Fund in 2011, despite a difficult economy”, said Janet Bornancin, President/CEO of the TREE Fund. “Good tree care requires top-quality tools, and tree care professionals rely on STIHL products to care for and maintain the health of the trees in their communities. STIHL’s commitment to the Tour, the TREE Fund and the research that powers progress in arboriculture is inspiring. We count ourselves fortunate to have such a generous and engaged title sponsor for our signature fundraiser.”

The 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees marks the 20^th anniversary of the event, which has raised more than $5 million for tree research and education since the first Tour rolled from Seattle to Oakland in 1992. This year’s cyclists will tackle a 585-mile loop through Oregon Aug. 5-11, a “life list” ride that will showcase the region’s iconic scenery and diverse eco-zones. The Pacific coast, Mt.Hood, the Columbia Gorge and Oregon’s vineyards, orchards and high desert will provide spectacular backdrops for a week of challenging cycling, educational programs, community engagement and fun. The Tour will return to PortlandAugust 11 for a one-day recreational Ride for Research, and conclude with a Finale Celebration at the International Society of Arboriculture’s annual International Tree Climbing Championship.

“The TREE Fund supports research that is vital to trees and those who care for them, and we are pleased to be a continued part of supporting the research that helps ensure healthy trees for future generations,” said Anita Gambill of STIHL Inc. “We look forward to breaking more fundraising records this year.”

More information on the STIHL Tour des Trees, including information on sponsorship, rider registration or donating to the TREE Fund is available at www.stihltourdestrees.org . Photos from the 2011 Tour are available at http://stihltourdestrees.org/2011/10/2011-stihl-tour-des-trees-photo-gallery / .

About STIHL Inc.:
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America for homeowners and professional landscapers*, as well as the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast — not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of a local STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL dealer locator on the STIHL website at www.stihlusa.com.

*"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research (commercial landscapers) as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2011 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.

STIHL is pleased to support the work of Independent We Stand, the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund),International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), National Hispanic Landscape Alliance and the National Association of State Park Directors.

About the TREE Fund:

The TREE Fund’s mission is to support sustainable communities and environmental stewardship by supporting research, scholarships and education programs essential to the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

The TREE Fund has supported research that has led to important developments in:

•Understanding air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees

•Determining the costs and benefits of urban trees

•Improving conditions for tree growth in difficult sites

•Strategies to manage diseases and pests that affect urban trees

For more information, visit www.treefund.org.