Merrell initiated The Pack Project grant program which, in its first round, awarded five organizations grants of $2,500 to bring ideas that increase outside participation to life. The second round of Pack Project grants is open now through Nov. 13, 2012. To enter your great idea to get more people outside, apply at www.merrell.com/thepack.
“We want to get more people outside and active,” said Stephanie Ofili, marketing manager at Merrell. “Through The Pack Project we are able to fund amazing organizations that are working hard to encourage youth, families and adults to embrace the fun of being outside while empowering them to be active. We’re very excited about the direction of our first five recipients and can’t wait to track the progress of their Pack Projects. Each outside program will come to life and inspire people to use the world around them.”
This initial round of Pack Project recipients include:
- Concrete Safaris In 2008, Concrete Safaris' founder asked sixteen 9 -11 year-olds how they wanted to improve the health of their community. They each said they wanted to live in a greener, cleaner, safer neighborhood. Through afterschool workshops held at Union Settlement Association's Rising Stars program at 98th Street and Third Avenue, the children designed a garden. The Pack Project, will help fund two public housing projects in which 30 children will exercise outdoors five days a week through swimming, running, hiking, cycling and fishing in and around East Harlem, NY. They will also invite 400 of their classmates to garden with them at the children’s farm and gardens they have created and maintained. www.concretesafaris.org
- El Grupo Youth Cycling El Grupo youth cycling is a non-profit youth cycling team in Tucson, AZ that affords the opportunity of cycling to local teens who otherwise would not get the chance. Their mission is to empower youth to ride bicycles and aims to instill life-long healthy habits and build character and camaraderie through bicycle advocacy, riding and racing. www.elgrupocycling.org.
- YouthCARE YouthCare breaks participation barriers and other constraining factors by providing access to activities that are physically active and conducted outdoors to those who would not otherwise have access to them. These opportunities strive to teach youth to participate in healthy activities such as rock climbing; broom ball; swimming; mountain biking and ice fishing. All of which encourage an enriched outside life. www.youthcare.org.
- Keeping It Wild Keeping It Wild organizes and runs outside outings, such as camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, fishing and wildlife observation, to underserved communities. Through The Pack Project grant, Keeping It Wild will fund six trips to distinctive Georgia outdoor destinations for underserved families and individuals. www.keepingitwild.org.
- Green Adventure Project Concrete Jungle is Green Adventure Project’s innovative field experience that offers adventure activities in an urban setting. Participants tree climb, go spelunking through culverts, and search for geocaches. The program serves at-risk and under-served youth in the community. www.tripleccamp.com/Green-Adventure-Project/Home
Merrell is a brand within the Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. that also includes Chaco and Patagonia Footwear.
