Wolverine Worldwide and its family of outdoor brands has signed on as a major sponsors of the Outdoor Foundation’s Outsiders Ball for the third year in a row.
Wolverine Worldwide has committed to a platinum level with Chaco, Merrell, Wolverine, Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Cushe and Cat Footwear also signing on as lead supporters. Thanks to broad industry support, over the past two years the event has funded 200 local community projects, which have connected more than 30,000 youth with outdoor recreation activities.
“As a leader in the outdoor footwear and apparel industry, our company and its fifteen brands are committed to making the world a better place, we commend the Outdoor Foundation for holding this same belief. Wolverine Worldwide is proud to continue our support of the Outdoor Foundation’s Outsiders Ball.” said Blake W. Krueger, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Wolverine Worldwide.
This year, the industry’s flagship fundraiser will take place on the evening of August 4th, at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Outdoor Foundation is calling all outdoor industry brands, businesses and individuals to join Wolverine Worldwide in support of the only industry-wide charitable event that invests in engaging future outdoor consumers. It’s one night with one common cause – getting young people outside and active by funding 100 community-based projects.
The purpose of the Outsiders Ball is to raise funding and awareness of the growing divide between young people and nature and to help inspire a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts and consumers. The statistics are staggering. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average young person today spends 8 hours in front of a screen and only 8 minutes outside and active.
“The Foundation is thrilled to have the support of Wolverine Worldwide and its family of brands,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation. “Wolverine Worldwide is truly unmatched in its leadership and at the forefront of our industry’s collective commitment to engage a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts.”
The 2014 Outsiders Ball raised nearly $300,000 and funded projects that engaged more than 25,000 Americans across the United States in outdoor activities. Eighty percent of participants were youth, and they spent a collective 171,817 hours outdoors.
The 2015 Ball is expected to draw more than 1,000 industry leaders for an eclectic night of entertainment, competition, music and delicious food and libations. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, email Chris Fanning at cfanning@outdoorfoundation.org. Individual tickets for the event are on
The Outdoor Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor leaders and enthusiasts. Through groundbreaking research, youth engagement and community grant-making, the Foundation works with young leaders and partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. In just five years, the Foundation has invested $4 million into 500 not-for-profit and college programs that have connected 200,00 young people to the outdoors. Importantly, 90¢ of every dollar goes directly into this critical work. Visit us at OutdoorFoundation.org.
