Summit for Someone benefit climbs huge success for BCM
In only the second year of its fund-raising effort, Big City Mountaineers' (BCM) Summit for Someone benefit climbs have raised more than $100,000 to date. As a result, BCM's recreational mentoring program for at-risk teens will be able to expand by over 20 percent for a second year in a row -- getting more youth into the outdoors as a result.
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In only the second year of its fund-raising effort, Big City Mountaineers’ (BCM) Summit for Someone benefit climbs have raised more than $100,000 to date. As a result, BCM’s recreational mentoring program for at-risk teens will be able to expand by over 20 percent for a second year in a row — getting more youth into the outdoors as a result.
“BCM has been overjoyed by the enthusiastic response of potential participants, and has amassed a waiting list of over 700 people for future climbs,” said Mark Godley, executive director of BCM. “BCM owes a huge debt of gratitude once again to our outdoor industry partners who added tremendous value to this program. From Backpacker Magazine as our major promotional partner, to the long list of industry leaders providing gear for climbers, it is largely due to the generous support of the outdoor industry that BCM was able to create an unparalleled value for participants.”
The concept began with two climbs in 2004, and expanded to five guided climbs this year, allowing individuals who agree to raise $2,500 in sponsorship funds to join trips going up the summits of Mt. Hood, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Shasta or Mt. Rainier. Thanks to gear donations from outdoor equipment manufacturers, each participant receives equipment for the climb with a retail value of $1,800. Each climb is joined by a “celebrity” editor from Backpacker magazine, including Publisher Eric Zinczenko and Editor-in-Chief Jon Dorn.
Each climb is led by AMGA certified guides from either Shasta Mountain Guides, Rainier Mountaineering Inc., Craig Van Hoy’s Go Trek & Expeditions or Sierra Mountaineering International.
Outdoor industry companies supporting the fund-raising program during 2005 include Backpacker Magazine, Big Agnes, Clif Bar, Gregory, GoLite, Go Trek & Expeditions, Highgear, JanSport, Kelty, Leki, Montrail, Moonstone, MountainSmith, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Research, Patagonia, Petzl, Princeton Tech, Protech, Rainier Mountaineering, Shasta Mountain Guides, Sierra Mountaineering International, Therm-a-Rest, Thorlos and Timberland. Â
“With the continued support of the outdoor industry, there is no doubt that our Summit for Someone benefit climbs will allow exponential growth for our recreational mentoring program in the coming years,” added Godley.
To learn more about BCM’s Summit for Someone benefit climb program, visit www.summitforsomeone.org or contact Andrea Nance, BCM’s cause marketing manager, at 303-271-9200, ext. 3, or andrea@bigcitymountaineers.org.
