MILWAUKEE, Jul 29, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In recognition of the National Mower Tune-Up Month campaign and its positive impact on the environment, the Cause Marketing Forum has presented Briggs & Stratton Corporation and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) with a Halo Award.

The Cause Marketing Forum (CMF) encourages businesses and nonprofit organizations to partner to help support and promote social causes, and positively influence consumers' behavior. The CMF presented Halo Awards to organizations whose cause marketing campaigns go beyond product promotion by demonstrating an ability to bring about positive social change.

According to the CMF, Mower Tune-Up Month met this criteria, earning Briggs & Stratton and NWF a Halo Award in the Best Environmental/Wildlife Campaign category. The annual Mower Tune-Up Month campaign, which aims to reduce emissions and fuel consumption by promoting yearly tune-ups, has helped protect the environment by significantly increasing mower maintenance since the program's creation in 2002.

"Our unique partnership with the National Wildlife Federation has provided a powerful platform for generating awareness of the environmental benefits of mower tune-ups," said George R. Thompson, vice president, corporate communications for Briggs & Stratton. "Briggs & Stratton is honored to receive this Halo Award and be recognized for the program's positive environmental impact."

Through Mower Tune-Up Month, Briggs & Stratton and NWF have focused on the 40 million U.S. households that don't perform mower maintenance. By performing a simple mower tune-up, these households can reduce emission levels up to 50 percent, reduce fuel consumption up to 30 percent and extend equipment life. Converting even a small percentage of these households would be a positive step toward protecting the environment.

"For nearly 70 years, NWF has educated Americans about how to protect the environment and wildlife in the U.S., and we're pleased to accept this award honoring our contributions," said Jaime Matyas, NWF's vice president of cause marketing. "A mower tune-up is an example of common sense conservation, and this program's success shows that Americans are willing to perform simple, inexpensive steps to help the environment."

The Cause Marketing Forum presented Halo Awards in six different categories on June 19 in New York City. For more information about the Halo Awards and a complete list of winners, visit www.causemarketingforum.com.

For more information on Mower Tune-Up Month, visit www.tuneupmonth.com. The site provides helpful tips on selecting the right maintenance kit, locating retailers and dealers who sell the kits, and simple how-to instructions for performing a tune-up.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of small, air-cooled engines for outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers, pressure washers and generators. A substantial commitment to research and development has enabled Briggs & Stratton to reduce engine emissions by 70 percent since 1990. The engines are backed by an authorized service network of more than 16,000 U.S. dealers. Briggs & Stratton engines power equipment in more than 90 countries on all seven continents. For more information, visit www.briggsandstratton.com.

The National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share. The Federation has educated and inspired families to uphold America's conservation tradition since 1936. For more information, visit www.nwf.org.

Note: A photo is available at URL: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.072903/bb4

SOURCE: Briggs & Stratton

Briggs & Stratton
George Thompson, 414-259-5312
thompson.george@basco.com
or
CKPR
Tom Ryan, 414-227-2254
tryan@ckpr.biz

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