Did you hear?…OIF launches Play it Forward fund-raising promotion

The Outdoor Industry Foundation is launching a new, pro deal-linked fund-raising program called Play it Forward on March 1, Michelle Barnes, vice president of the OIF, told SNEWS®. Established by the board of Outdoor Industry Association, OIF is a non-profit designed to engage the outdoor community in getting more youth introduced to the active outdoor lifestyle.

“Play it Forward is a new cause marketing campaign that will help fund programs to inspire youth to get active — to don a backpack, pitch a tent, find a new trail or learn how to paddle,” Barnes said.

Working initially with Outdoor ProLink (www.outdoorprolink.com) and several soon-to-be-announced manufacturing sponsors, Play it Forward will encourage employees and industry professionals, who are enjoying the benefits of a discounted pro deal purchase, to contribute a few extra dollars that will go directly to the OIF.

Manufacturer-sponsors will then agree to match, dollar for dollar, the amount a pro deal purchase customer is allocating to OIF. In addition, Outdoor Retailer has agreed to match the total contribution from each Play it Forward purchase, meaning the dollars contributed by a single pro deal purchase order could be quadrupled. And that is what has Barnes so excited about the program.

“If an employee purchasing a pair of boots from, say, Timberland, decides to contribute an additional $2, and if Timberland is then a sponsor, that $2 becomes $4, which Outdoor Retailer will match so it becomes $8,” she said.

“One kind deed gets played forward by another, the manufacturer, and then by another, Outdoor Retailer, each time becoming bigger in terms of impact. And the result is much-needed funding toward programs that will inspire youth to get outside,” added Barnes.

To learn more, email Michelle Barnes at mbarnes@outdoorindustryfoundation.org.

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