WAYCROSS — The President’s Top 100 are among Ducks Unlimited’s elite chapters throughout the nation. Every year, the list is reserved for the 100 chapters that raise the most dollars for DU’s habitat conservation work. The Okefenokee DU Chapter here made the list as one of the organization’s highest fundraising chapters.

"These fundraising events are the backbone of how DU conserves habitat and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the on-the-ground conservationists making a difference for North American waterfowl populations," said John Pope, president of DU. "It takes a lot of effort to crack the Top 100 and these chapters deserve to be congratulated from every person who enjoys the outdoors."

The Okefenokee Chapter has earned a spot on the President’s Top 100 list out of the more than 3,500 DU Chapters nationwide. DU’s grassroots system has become a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has funded a portion of the more than 12 million acres DU has conserved since 1937.

"DU chapters throughout the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and wetlands that filter our drinking water are important to them and their communities," Pope said. "The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our Top 100 chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our elite chapters next year."

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 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.