ST. LOUIS –

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation announced a $30 million project donation to The Nature Conservancy on Monday.

The company’s donation will be spread across five-years and be used for a project designed to help protect and preserve four major rivers and watersheds throughout North America and Europe, including the Mississippi River and Colorado River.

“My family and our company have deep roots in St. Louis, and one of the world's greatest rivers runs right through our hometown,” granddaughter of Enterprise founder Jack Taylor and foundation senior vice president and executive director Kindle Betz said in a news release. “But in light of Enterprise's international expansion, it was important that this gift benefit communities and their surrounding environment worldwide. We hope it will help more and more people understand and support the critical role rivers play in our lives.”

The project is called the "Routes & Roots: Enterprise Healthy Rivers Project," and it will support The Nature Conservancy's long-term water resource management initiatives, which benefit 150 million people, according to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation.

“This contribution is one of the biggest gifts we have received in many years,” Mark Tercek, president and chief executive officer of The Nature Conservancy, said. 

“It will benefit both people and wildlife across two continents, while facilitating the sharing of best practices to drive global progress in conservation. This effort to preserve great rivers is about more than just protecting fresh water today – it also demonstrates Enterprise's leadership, vision and commitment to making a difference for the long term,” he continued. 

The $30 million project highlights the strategic importance of rivers and regional watersheds, the company said.

In addition to supplying drainage and outflow for rainfall and streams, they strengthen habitats, generate renewable energy and provide cost-efficient transportation options.

“Our philanthropic focus is not always directly related to our business, but instead reaches beyond to make a difference and improve the quality of life wherever our employees and customers live and work,” added Betz. “We're thrilled to support and partner with a world-class organization like The Nature Conservancy in this effort to help ensure that healthy rivers continue to enrich our lives for generations to come.”

The Enterprise Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand and Enterprise Holdings.