The Thompson's Company Donation Helps Things Go "Swimmingly" For Pacific Marine Mammal Center

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, DATE - The Thompson's Company, makers of the Thompson's^® Water Seal^® line of exterior cleaning and waterproofing products, has "sealed" an agreement for a two-year partnership in support of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center of Laguna Beach, California. In addition to a monetary donation, the center will receive Thompson's Water Seal products for use at their facilities, which has rescued 254 animals in the first nine months of 2009. This includes California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, northern elephant seals, northern fur seals and various cetaceans (whales, dolphins or porpoises) each year.

"The Thompson's Water Seal brand was launched in California, and a California sea lion has been a part of our logo for many decades, so we jumped at the opportunity to help the Pacific Marine Mammal Center," said Beverly Welch, Senior Product Manager for The Thompson's Company. "We share a common mission to preserve and protect, and we're looking forward to making a valuable contribution to their work." (In a bit of Thompson's Water Seal trivia, the seal which has appeared on millions of cans as part of the brand's logo is named Addis after Edward Addis Thompson, the entrepreneur who started The Thompson's Company. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center will also name one of its rescued seals Addis to recognize The Thompson's Company donation.)

The Thompson's Company is an ongoing supporter of Niagara Falls State Park, Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park through its VIP Program - Very Important Places. "In the case of this donation, we like to call it the Very Important Pinniped program," added Welch. "Pinniped is the scientific grouping for all seals, sea lions and walruses. This is one aspect of our environmental commitment initiatives and the first specifically supporting a non-profit dedicated to helping animal wildlife. We couldn't think of a better place to start."

"The Center is continually improving our facilities, and of course, there is an ongoing need for funding for everyday operations," said Melissa Sciacca, development director. "In fact, we have recently taken in a record number of starving sea lion pups, and the need for help has never been greater."

ABOUT THE PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
Open in 1971, the mission of the non-profit Pacific Marine Mammal Center is to rescue, medically treat, and rehabilitate marine mammals that strand along the Orange County coastline due to illness or injury and release healthy marine mammals to their natural habitat, while preserving species diversity; and increase public awareness of the marine environment through education and research. The PMMC is one of only six facilities on the West Coast. The center recently completed an interior expansion including building centralized exam and operating rooms, along with two nurseries with heated concrete floors. The outside of the facility includes seven pools with decking for the animals. The PMMC is open daily for animal viewing and group tours can also be booked. Learn more at www.pacificmmc.org.

ABOUT THOMPSON'S^® WATER SEAL^® BRAND
The Thompson's^® Water Seal^® product line is America's number one brand of exterior deck care and waterproofing products. The brand offers a complete range of products designed to provide superior results for a wide variety of projects:

Exterior Cleaners – the brand makes exterior wood cleaners designed to treat a spectrum of different surface conditions, from removing dirt and mildew up to removing solid stains. The newest cleaner, Thompson's^® Water Seal^® Oxy Foaming Action Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner, is an oxygen based cleaner that removes dirt and mildew from a variety of surfaces, including wood, concrete and composite decks.

Clear and Tinted Deck Coatings – the brand makes clear waterproofers and "tinted" wood protectors, which provide natural wood color; these products are available in both oil-based formulas and in water-based formulas. The Thompson's^® Water Seal^® Advanced line offers stronger water repellency and great convenience features like application on damp wood (or immediate application to pressure treated lumber), low odor, low VOCs and soap and water clean-up.

Deck Stains – Thompson's^® Water Seal^® Deck & Housel Waterproofing Stains are available in both semi-transparent and solid stains; 100 colors are available in an oil-based formula and 117 colors are available in a latex formula.

The Thompson's Company Web site provides an outstanding resource to learn more about Thompson's Water Seal products, the VIP Program and the brand's environmental commitment initiatives. Additionally, the site provides creative project ideas, step-by-step how-to guides and videos, and even an inspirational photo gallery. Visit the site at www.thompsonswaterseal.com.