Big City Mountaineers (BCM), a non-profit that provides critical life skills in under-resourced urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions, will raise over $250,000 from a series of Mt. Whitney Summit for Someone (SFS) fundraising climbs April 16-29.
In the August issue of Backpacker magazine, Backpacker magazine editor-in-chief and longtime BCM board member Jonathan Dorn extended an invitation to readers to submit a written entry telling him why they would like to join him on a climb of Mt. Whitney. After receiving 75 essays (some including photos and video), 60 readers committed to raising $4,000 each for BCM youth to join the climb.
SFS is a unique program that gives participants a chance to travel, climb the worlds premier mountains under the instruction of some of the worlds best guide services, and positively impact the lives of under-resourced urban youth. The vital funding raised through SFS enables BCM to help thousands of urban youth across the country in need of positive adult guidance, in challenging and restorative wilderness environments. BCM programs have a proven track record of improving integrity, self-esteem, decision-making abilities, and communication skills that keep kids healthy, active, in school, and motivated to strive for success.
I had to turn around on Mt. Whitney years ago due to avalanche danger, and Ive been wanting to go back and summit ever since, says Dorn. When I threw out the invite to Backpacker readers, I had no idea we would receive the type of support we have for BCM youth. To our knowledge, theres never been one true mountaineering event that attracted so many participants and raised so many dollars for a good cause.
Joining Dorn are The North Face athletes Pete Athans and Cedar Wright. Wright has already raised over $10,000 for BCM through past SFS climbs. Additional partners are DeLorme, which is sponsoring the climb in addition to providing inReach satellite communicators with GPS, and Lowa, which is providing mountaineering boots.
To donate, please visit summitforsomeone.org/donate.
In addition to these Whitney climbs, the SFS climb opportunities include Mt. Rainier, The Grand Teton, and Mt. Kilimanjaro along with 15 other world-class mountains. To find the climb that is right for you and to help even more youth experience BCMs life-changing programs, please visit summitforsomeone.org/climbs.
