Exxel Outdoors Expands Its Social Responsibility Mandate With ‘Exxel Diverse Outdoor Kids’ Program
Partnering to Give Transformational Nature Experiences to Youth of Color
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BROOMFIELD, CO (August 18, 2020) – Exxel Outdoors is rolling out its new Exxel Diverse Outdoor Kids program to widen its social responsibility agenda, announced Harry Kazazian, Chairman and CEO of the company.
With this initiative, Exxel is partnering with key organizations to introduce youth of color to outdoor pursuits. The program kicks off with Exxel’s sponsorship of Reel Fishing With Upstream TV show and Friends of Joshua Tree’s Climb Smart live rock climbing event.
“Exxel Diverse Outdoor Kids will advance two of our company goals for social and environmental leadership,” Kazazian explained. “First, cultivating a love of nature in kids of various ethnicities, to help create an inclusive outdoor enthusiast community. Second, these early wilderness experiences will give them a sense of responsibility to protect the environment, which will grow with them into adulthood.”
Exxel has a long track record of serving people of different backgrounds and circumstances. Since 2000, its American factory has donated thousands of sleeping bags for immediate relief from major disasters – directly to victims of hurricanes, floods, fires, and earthquakes.
“Exxel will always continue to aid people when disaster strikes, and we’re thrilled to start Exxel Diverse Outdoor Kids as a new, relevant way to strengthen our communities,” Kazazian added.
Exxel will be the Title Sponsor for two episodes of the doc-style TV show, Reel Fishing with Upstream.
This is the only show produced and hosted by African American anglers, which airs on the Sportsman Channel. Instead of their usual guest celebrities, hosts Gerard Robinson and Charles Bush will give kids of color an eye-opening, first-time fishing and camping experience, using Exxel gear.
“We’re excited to produce these unique shows with Exxel,” said Robinson. “We’re going to take these great young people and our TV audience on an unforgettable adventure that will inspire and delight.”
Upstream Productions and Exxel will also jointly produce a 30-second PSA conveying the importance of outdoor inclusion, to broadcast during these episodes. Airdates are scheduled for early 2021.
Additionally, this November Exxel will donate camping gear and funding to treat a group of minority youth to participate in Friends of Joshua Tree’s Climb Smart.
Exxel will be a Presenting Sponsor of this premiere three-day rock climbing education and stewardship event in California’s Joshua Tree National Park.
“Exxel’s generous support of Climb Smart holds up our mutual mission to expand access to the wonders of our unique national park and the exciting sport of rock climbing,” remarked Kenji Haroutunian, President Emeritus of Friends of Joshua Tree.
For both Reel Fishing with Upstream and Climb Smart, Exxel will gift each young participant with a separate tent and sleeping bag to keep them safe, in compliance with social distancing rules. The kids will be encouraged to keep the gear, spurring them to take future outdoor adventures.
The Exxel Diverse Outdoor Kids program draws upon the energies and talents of Exxel employees both at the corporate and brand levels, unifying the company in this exciting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiative. Exxel’s staff have been developing their outreach agenda for 2021, to increase the recognition and welcoming of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in the outdoors. Efforts include collaborating with retail partners on packaging imagery; promoting ethnic diversity and awareness in social media and printed materials; and recruiting BIPOC for the athlete ambassador programs.
Through its brands, Exxel partners with numerous organizations working to eliminate barriers to outdoor recreation. It has made mini-grants to SheJumps, Big City Mountaineers, NatureBridge, and Black Girls Trekkin’, and gear donations to WildKind, AWExpeditions, Color Outside, Bay Area Wilderness Training, Soul Trak Outdoors, GirlVentures, LatinXHikers, and Wild Diversity.
About Exxel Outdoors – Exxel Outdoors, LLC is a leading, global provider of innovative outdoor recreational and commercial products. As one of the largest privately-owned companies in the industry, we manage our scale and growth in a sustainable and responsible way, while staying personal and relevant. Our brands include Kelty, Sierra Designs, Ultimate Direction, Hex, SJK, Slumberjack, Compass 360, Kelty Tactical, Wenzel, Insta-Bed, and X2O. With our world headquarters in Broomfield, CO, facilities include a distribution center in Reno, NV; America’s only major sleeping bag plant in Haleyville, AL; executive offices and design lab in Pasadena, CA; sales office in Bentonville, AR; Europe sales office in London; and sourcing and factory management office in Shanghai. Visit: exxel.com
For press information, please contact Dahlia Greer, dahlia@exxel.com.
