With a simple click or comment, Facebook fans can help raise $10,000 for service men and women around the world

CLINTON, Tenn. Nov. 11, 2011 – Climashield, the preferred insulation provider for the U.S. Military, and Operation Gratitude, the non-profit, volunteer-based organization that sends care packages to troops deployed in harm’s way, today announced a social marketing initiative that engages Facebook users in giving back to the troops.

Kicking-off on Veterans Day and continuing through Thanksgiving, the initiative invites appreciative Americans to “sign” a virtual Thank You card via the Climashield Facebook page by writing a comment of support or simply tagging themselves in the card photo. For each unique signature or comment, Climashield will give $5 to Operation Gratitude, for a donation up-to $10,000.

In the hands of Operation Gratitude, these funds will be used to send care packages to men and women serving our country around the world, away from their friends and family during the holidays. Care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation sending good wishes, love and support.

“As a supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces, Climashield recognizes the sacrifices these men and women make everyday to preserve our freedom. Not only do we want to give back, but we also want to invite others to show their support,” said Matt Schrantz, Chief Operating Officer of HarVest CI, Climashield’s parent company.  “Thanks to organizations like Operation Gratitude – who are dedicated to serving our troops – we can show our appreciation in a tangible way.”

“Hundreds of thousands of military personnel serve in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Africa, the Philippines, Kosovo and Bosnia, along with tens of thousands more who serve aboard ships at sea,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude.  “At Operation Gratitude, it is our mission to make sure our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines feel support from home by sending care packages. We are grateful for partners like Climashield that come alongside us and make our work possible.”

To take part in giving back to the troops, visit facebook.com/climashield to sign the Thank You card. To learn more about Operation Gratitude, visit OperationGratitude.com.

ABOUT CLIMASHIELD
Headquartered in Clinton, Tennessee, Climashield is a total insulation supplier manufacturing a broad portfolio of insulation products for the outdoor recreation, military and hospitality industries. Climashield has more than 25 years of experience in supplying continuous filament insulation to customers worldwide and is noted for providing the most compressible, warmest, softest, most durable, water resistant and hypoallergenic insulation products in the market. For more information about Climashield, please visit www.climashield.com.

About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm's way, to their children left behind, and to Wounded Warriors in Military hospitals and Transition Units. The organization's mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces and their families the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 700,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.

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CLINTON, Tenn. June 7, 2011 – The preferred insulation supplier for the U.S. Military, Climashield today announced that they have been once again selected to provide insulation for the Modular Sleep System (MSS).  Over the last five years, Climashield has equipped the military by filling over one million MSS sleeping bags with their premium insulation.

Tested and commissioned in the roughest terrain and the harshest conditions, Climashield’s continuous filament insulation consistently excels over other brands in side-by-side comparisons of thermal efficiency, durability and packability when traveling light is a necessity.  Made in the U.S.A. in an ISO-certified facility, the Berry Compliant insulation also features AquaBan technology, a surface encapsulation treatment that keeps soldiers warm, even in wet conditions, during cold nights in the field.

“Climashield has been proud to supply our quality insulation for over two decades to the men and women serving our country in the armed forces,” said Matt Schrantz, Chief Operating Officer of HarVest CI, Climashield’s parent company.  “In addition to being the insulation choice for the MSS, Climashield also works with the Marine Corps to create a customized insulation application for the 3 Season Sleeping Bag.”

Featuring two different sleeping bags, the four-part MSS is constructed to be used in conjunction with each other or used separately if necessary.  The cold weather sleeping bags are designed to capture and maintain body heat in temperatures ranging from 50 to negative 30 degrees Farenheit.  In addition to the bags, the system includes a waterproof bivy cover and a stuff sack to complete the package.

ABOUT CLIMASHIELD
Headquartered in Clinton, Tennessee, Climashield is a total insulation supplier manufacturing a broad portfolio of insulation products for the outdoor recreation, military and hospitality industries. Climashield has more than 25 years of experience in supplying continuous filament insulation to customers worldwide and is noted for providing the most compressible, warmest, softest, most durable, water resistant and hypoallergenic insulation products in the market. For more information about Climashield, please visit www.climashield.com.

SALT LAKE CITY, August 3, 2010 – Enhancing the performance capabilities of insulated outerwear design, Climashield today unveiled CONTUR – a breakthough brand of insulation combining the durability of continuous filament with a soft, slim framework for ultimate flexibility.  Attendees at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show (Booth #38055) can get a hands-on experience of the unique four-way stretch, thin construction and plush feel of this industry-first insulation innovation.

For weathering the great outdoors, Climashield CONTUR delivers supreme warmth in a revolutionary thin package for pants, jackets, gloves and footwear that are both functional and stylish.  With unsurpassed breathability, this insulation is quick to dry and features AquaBanÔ technology, which enhances moisture transfer from the body and prevents a clammy feel amidst wet conditions.  Climashield CONTUR is also 100 percent recyclable.

“Climashield’s advanced technologies and manufacturing accomplishments have made us the preferred insulation provider for performance sleeping bags and we want to bring this expertise to our customers in outerwear design,” said Matt Schrantz, Chief Operating Officer of HarVest Consumer Insulation, Inc., Climashield’s parent company.  “With CONTUR, our customers can achieve maximum levels of thermal efficiency without adding bulk or sacrificing comfort and style.  The end result is outerwear that moves with the body and feels good next to the skin.”

During the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show, attendees can stop by Booth #38055 to find out how to win gear on Facebook and experience the advantages of Climashield’s insulation at the interactive zone.  The interactive space gives show attendees the opportunity to view the expansive product portfolio, test the durability of the insulation in a hands-on test and see a demonstration of AquaBan technology. 

Attendees of the show can also put Climashield’s durability and stretch to the test in the Climashield Tug of War challenge at the Rock & Ice Climbing Zone (Booth #2033).  The men’s competition starts on Wednesday, August 4 at 4:00 p.m. and the women’s competition starts on Thursday, August 5 at 4:00 p.m.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah August 3-6, 2010.

ABOUT CLIMASHIELD

Headquartered in Clinton, Tennessee, Climashield is a total insulation supplier manufacturing a broad portfolio of insulation products for the outdoor recreation, military and hospitality industries.  Climashield has more than 25 years of experience in supplying continuous filament insulation to customers worldwide and is noted for providing the most compressible, warmest, softest, most durable, water resistant and hypoallergenic insulation products in the market.  For more information about Climashield, please visit www.climashield.com.

SALT LAKE CITY, July 21, 2009 - Today, at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show, Climashield® (Booth # 38036) unveiled the latest insulation innovation in its product portfolio – Climashield APEX. The perfect fit for outerwear and sleeping bags, this new evolution in continuous filament insulation boasts the lightest weight available on the market today.

Climashield APEX touts 75 percent more loft and 30 percent more thermal efficiency at the same weight as other competitive continuous filament insulation. An industry low, this new continuous filament insulation is available in an unprecedented 2 ounces per square yard. Equipped with a proprietary surface encapsulation technology, Climashield APEX offers superior warmth in extreme conditions, even when wet, while still allowing for moisture transfer from the body.

“As a total insulation supplier, CLIMASHIELD draws on over 25 years of experience in manufacturing and insulation technology to create custom-fit insulation for whatever products our customers need,’” said Matt Schrantz, Chief Operating Officer of Harvest, CI, Climashield’s parent company. “Designed by our engineers for exceptional performance in both outerwear and sleeping bags, Climashield APEX delivers best-in-class thermal efficiency in an industry-first lightweight package.”

At the Climashield booth (#38036), OR attendees are challenged to test their skiing and snowboarding skills in the “Find Your Apex” contest. Playing We Ski™ and Snowboard on the Nintendo Wii™ located in the booth, showgoers compete for the fastest time of the day. At the end of each show day, the competitor with the fastest downhill time wins new Climashield APEX gear. Official contest rules are located at the booth and at www.climashield.com.

Climashield provides lightweight thermal insulation to the world’s most sought-after brands in the outdoor recreation, military and hospitality industries. Using signature continuous filament insulation, Climashield engineers insulation for every adventure, delivering premium thermal insulation for products including sleeping bags, outerwear, gloves, footwear, comforters and quilts.

The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah July 21 - 24, 2009.

“Our partners have some great, environmentally aware new products debuting this year,” said Schrantz. “We wanted to partner and support them at OR by bringing attention to their new green products, and highlight that it’s Climashield® Green insulation found within their bags.”

At the Climashield booth (#39037) OR attendees and exhibitors will have the chance to win one of the new bags. How do you win a bag? It’s as simple as jumping in the bag with Climashield and smiling for the camera. Each visitor will then be entered to win one of three different kinds of sleeping bags: Ripple Creek by Big Agnes, Forecast by Kelty and Cochise and Yachiyo by Sierra Designs.

“We wanted to show people enjoying the product, and just basically having a great time,” said Schrantz. “We’re in the bag, we wanted our customers to jump in there with us.”
Featured sleeping bags at the promotion will include:

• The Big Agnes Ripple Creek, a 35 degree sleeping bag which is 99 percent recycled; featuring Climashield® Green HL 100 percent recycled content insulation with 100 percent recycled rip-stop nylon shell and liner fabric. Drawstring cord and stuff sacks are also derived from recycled content.
• The Kelty Forecast, a new bag for 2009, is a high tech, eco-friendly bag featuring Climashield® Green insulation. The Forecast is available in 20 and 40 degree versions, and the 20 degree is available with a women specific cut.
• The Sierra Designs Cochise, also new for 2009, is available in 15 and 30 degree with Climashield® XP insulation. Both the 15 and 30 degree Cochise bags also are available in a women’s version, called Yachiyo.

The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Expo is at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah January 22-25, 2009. For more information about Climashield®, please visit www.climashield.com.

The company, Climashield, donated more than 18,600 minutes for soldiers to use to call home while on base at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, according to a Climashield press release. Each solider at Fort Jackson will receive two 60-minute phone cards today, Christmas Eve.

According to Jessie Stevenson, Fort Jackson coordinator for commercial sponsorship and advertising sales, more than 125 soldiers remain on post during the holiday season.

"Every year, we have soldiers who cannot go home due to financial reasons or because they do not have anywhere to go for the holidays," Stevenson said. "The soldiers will be elated to find the cards because there is nothing they will enjoy more than the opportunity to connect with friends, family and loved ones."

While Climashield keeps soldiers insulated and warm during missions all year long, it wanted to provide a different kind of warmth by helping spread holiday cheer, the press release said.

"We've supplied the U.S. military with continuous filament insulation for the past 25 years, and we're hoping the ability to call home will warm them with holiday spirit as they continue to train and fight for our country," said Matt Schrantz, chief operating officer of HarVest Consumer Insulation, Climashield's parent company. "It's a small token of our appreciation. We are truly grateful for all of our men and women who serve the United States."

The press release said Fort Jackson is the largest and most active initial entry training center in the U.S. Army, training 50 percent of all soldiers and 70 percent of all women entering the Army each year.

Clinton, Tenn. (August 28, 2008) –Climashield®, the acclaimed high-tech continuous filament insulation used in outdoor recreation apparel and gear, home and hospitality, and in military applications, was purchased last week by private company HarVest Consumer Insulation, Inc.  Formally owned by Western Nonwovens, Inc. (WNI), the future of Climashield® was momentarily uncertain after WNI declared bankruptcy July 14, 2008.

Last Friday Ken Hardin, Climashield® president and CEO and Jon Vesely, a Chicago-based private investor, purchased Climashield® and the manufacturing facility here. Hardin and Vesely believe in the power of the Climashield® brand, the people behind the brand, and the brand’s future. “I’m happy we were able to do this,” said Hardin. “This is a great group of people we have here and I’m especially gratified we were able to save these jobs.”

HarVest CI will continue to expand the Climashield® product line, concentrating especially on environmentally-friendly “green” products. “Climashield® is well-capitalized, has a sustainable competitive advantage and is poised for growth. This is a high-tech industry and we’re excited about marketplace opportunity,” said Vesely. Climashield® was WNI’s performance insulation division.

“Climashield® is a legacy business. We will not stray from our core focus of providing the preferred premium insulating material for our clients and we remain constant in our quest to always be the industry leader,” said company COO Matt Schrantz.  “We plan on being around for many, many years.”

The industrial division of WNI, which made non-woven products for auto headliners, water and air filtration, upholstery and mattresses, etc., was purchased by Milliken & Company.