Tigers United and Discovery Project C.A.T. raises funding for endangered tigers during College Football Playoff National Championship weekend
Discovery Inc., the global leader in real life entertainment, and Tigers United, an organization comprised of four tiger mascot universities, today announced a text to donate activation, which begins January 11 and will be highlighted at the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, January 13 at 8 p.m. EST.
Fans can save tigers and support their favorite team with a donation through January 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The campaign is raising funding to support a shared goal of doubling the wild tiger population by 2022 with proceeds directed to Tigers United and Discovery’s Project C.A.T.
This year’s College Football Playoff National Championship game will feature Clemson University and Louisiana State University, two of our four tiger-mascot schools. We might be competitors on the field, but as part of Tigers United, we are undivided in our mission to save our mascot. Clemson and LSU have joined with other Consortium schools – Auburn University and University of Missouri – to combine our expertise in research, training and technology and advocacy to reach their goal.
This Tiger vs. Tiger match-up provides a great platform to shine a spotlight on the endangered tiger population and the multiple threats they still face from poaching and habitat loss. There are currently less than 4,000 wild tigers on the planet. Tigers are the most popular mascot; they are revered in some cultures and prominent in popular culture. They are everywhere — cereal boxes, gas stations and tires — except where they should be, in the wild. As apex predators, tigers play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. By protecting tigers and their habitat, we are also helping to protect other at-risk animals that share this habitat.
Discovery launched Project C.A.T., Conserving Acres for Tigers in 2016 to protect and increase the wild tiger population, which has shrunk an astonishing 96% over the last century. This program funds nearly six million acres of protected habitat across five countries and aims to ensure a healthy habitat for future generations of tigers.
Discovery is proud to support the work of Tigers United and use this game to raise additional funds and awareness for tiger conservation by launching a text to donate campaign. We’re asking our Tiger nation to text CLEMSON to 707070 to make a donation which will be split between Project C.A.T. and Tigers United. Discovery will also match up to $50k for the team with the highest donation amount.
“Project C.A.T. is an incredibly important initiative for Discovery and one that aligns with our global mission as an organization to inspire, inform and make positive changes in the world,” said David Leavy, Chief Corporate Operating Officer at Discovery, Inc. “Tigers United is a wonderful partner in this campaign, and we are thrilled to bring the message of tiger conservation to consumers on such a major national platform during the College Football National Championship.”
“Discovery and Tigers United share the common goal of saving our wild tigers. With this unique opportunity of two tiger-mascot universities, both members of Tigers United, facing off in the national championship game, we are excited to partner with Discovery’s Project C.A.T. to broadly share our conservation message,” said Dr. Brett Wright, Director of Tigers United University Consortium and Professor and Dean Emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences at Clemson University.
“The LSU Tigers are very pleased to be part of this initiative to save tigers and want to increase the awareness of people supporting our university and our team in the plight of tigers in the wild. Geaux Tigers!” said Dr. Allen Rutherford, Director of the School of Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University.
