The North Face announced Medicines Global as a winner of the 2015 Explore Fund Grant for Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassador (MGOYA) program 'GET kids MOVING'.
Medicines Global was voted one of the top grantees for 2015, because of their dedication to creating connections for youth to nature both in the back country and closer to home in urban parks and at county beaches, there by engaging a new and diverse audience with the outdoors. The North Face selected a total of 47 organizations engaging more than 30,000 people in outdoor recreation focusing on projects that use outdoor exploration to nurture an appreciation of the outdoors and encourage participants to try new outdoor activities that allow outdoor exploration and adventure. MGOYA programs were established in 2004 to bring the wilderness and the love and respect for nature to as many inner city students as possible. Since it's founding the program has provided over 1,500 wilderness adventures to urban youth, many of whom had never been outside of the city.
This upcoming academic year's Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassador program 'GET kids MOVING' will launch September 2015 with our annual Stand Up Paddle Board and Sea Kayaking Days with Channel Islands Outfitters.
“With the $15,000 Explore Fund Grant from The North Face, Medicines Global will provide wilderness adventures for urban youth”. Johanna Belson, Director, Medicines Global, continues “one of the most effective and fun ways of developing the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and guardians of our natural environment is to offer outdoor experiences to as many kids as possible. Rock climbing, camping, surfing, seeing snow for the first time, breathing the desert air, it is unforgettable for these city kids & the ripple effect is huge. This is Medicines Global's 6th Planet Explore Fund Grant. Medicines Global is honored that The North Face has again recognized our efforts.”
“In my 29 years in the outdoor industry, Kenji Haroutnian explains his support for MGOYA, I have rarely come across a project with the unique combination of virtue, service to community and passion that Janice and Johanna Belson bring to Medicines Global and Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassador programs.”
“It is exciting to see the incredible organizations who are just as passionate about giving more kids the opportunity to experience the outdoors as we are,”said Ann Krcik, Senior Director, Outdoor Exploration, The North Face.”Together we are making an investment in the next generation of outdoor explorers who will grow to love and protect the wild places we all love to play.”
Medicines Global was established in 2001 to inspire adventure travelers to give back to places they visit by delivering basic first aid supplies to medical centers and remote community run health posts. Since 1999, 17 expeditions have taken place to Nepal, Mongolia, Tibet, Guatemala, India, Ecuador, Siberia, Sri Lanka, Russia, Dominican Republic and El Salvador. In 2004, after years of leading humanitarian international outdoor adventures Medicines Global founders Janice and Johanna Belson created the MGOYA Programs to introduce the love of outdoor adventure to local urban youth.
In addition to the continued support of The North Face, Medicines Global has been able to advance the mission with the support of several important partner organizations such as: the Los Angeles Unified School District; the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles City Government; Erewhon Organic Grocer & Cafe; Adventure 16; Friends of Joshua Tree and Channel Island Outfitters. Medicines Global has received fiscal and in-kind support from several other generous companies such as: GoPo; LEKI USA; RedWing/VASQUE; OSPREY Packs; Klean Kanteen; Avon Rent-A- Van; adidas OUTDOOR; Whole Foods Market; Surya Bastakoti/Himalayan Kitchen; Box Brothers; The Melby Family Foundation and The Hixon Foundation.
As part of its mission to start a global movement of Outdoor Exploration, The North Face introduced the Explore Fund, www.explorefund.org in 2010 and the program has since provided more than $1.5 million in U.S. grants to more than 300 non-profit organizations committed to inspiring the next generation of outdoor explorers and conservationists.
