Patagonia and Merrell have joined the list of companies supporting the Seattle-based Youth Outdoors Legacy Foundation's mission, who works to introduce kids to the outdoors. Patagonia and Merrell join REI, Columbia Sportswear, prAna, WL Gore, Youngone Corporation, Black Diamond, KEEN Footwear, and the VF Corporation.
“We need to bring children into those moments which unplug us from everyday life. Investing in youth programs builds into a greater fund of those personal experiences children must have with the outdoors. When the outdoors becomes an important resource to a new generation, they will want to share this legacy with others by protecting the environment and introducing their outdoor moments to others,” said Dennis Madsen, founder of the Youth Outdoors Legacy Fund.
“So many of us remember our first meaningful moments outdoors and how we cultivated them into adventure and an outdoor lifestyle,” said Casey Sheahan, CEO/President Lost Arrow Corporation parent of Patagonia. “Whether we have made the outdoors our business or our personal passion after work, it is important to introduce children from all walks of life to that experience. This is what helps us join a shared legacy with future generations.”
“YOLF is a great way for Merrell to share the wealth of many outdoor resources and which pay it forward to a new generation of environmental stewards,” said Jacques Lavertue, president of The Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., which consists of Merrell, Patagonia Footwear and Sebago.
Today the YOLF advisory board approved grants to two youth outreach programs dedicated to providing young people with positive, fun outdoor recreational experiences:
–Kids in Training, Cary, N.C. $15,000
–Ebony Rose Ski Club/African American Outdoor Association, Portland, Ore. $14,000
In January of 2007, YOLF granted $151,000 to twelve similar organizations.
In 2006, the five organizations that YOLF supported introduced over 11,000 youth to outdoor recreation programs. “It is our goal to continue to grow the YOLF fund so that these and many more worthy non profit programs can reach kids, introducing them to the wonder of the outdoor world”.
The fund is being administered through the Seattle Foundation, a highly respected and professionally managed community foundation. Grant making is overseen by the Youth Outdoors Legacy Fund advisory board.
