Outdoor Industry Employees Raise $25,000 to Support Big City Mountaineers Youth Through 8,000 Meter Challenge Event
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September 19, 2013 (Golden, Colo.) – This year’s Mark Fulton 8,000 Meter Challenge, a team event where participants climb Southern California’s three highest peaks in one day, raised $25,000 for Big City Mountaineers (BCM). The donation will help fund BCM’s wilderness mentoring expeditions for under-resourced urban youth.
The annual event, featuring SoCal’s “Triple Crown” is open exclusively to outdoor industry retail employees. Teams from each retailer hike 40 miles, gaining 12,000 feet of elevation to compete for the Summit Party Trophy, an engraved vintage ice ax that can be proudly displayed inside the store of the team with the most finishers. The course covers the Three Saints peaks including San Antonio (10,064’), San Gorgonio (11,502′), and San Jacinto (10,804′). Out of the 200 individuals competing, Team Zappos won the trophy for the third consecutive year by entering 24 participants and raising over $16,000.
“The Zappos culture emphasizes community involvement and fun. Supporting Big City Mountaineers’ kids through the 8,000 meter challenge accomplishes both of those things. Our employees are excited to come together as Team Zappos to help young people find success in their lives,” said David Fong Collaboration Product Manager from Zappos.
Since 2007, the 8,000 Meter Challenge has partnered with BCM and asked teams to raise money for the non-profit. The event has raised over $50,000 for BCM enabling hundreds of inner city kids the opportunity to participate in wilderness mentoring expeditions.
“It’s been amazing to see this event evolve from just a handful of individuals to one that brings 150 outdoor industry retailers together and also helps urban youth have the opportunity to overcome their own challenges and gain a similar sense of accomplishment,” said John Drollinger director of the 8,000 Meter Challenge.
Key corporate sponsors of the event include Jansport, Suunto, Patagonia, LOWA and Pacific Crest Trading.
About Big City Mountaineers
Big City Mountaineers (BCM) instills critical life-skills in over 2,000 under-served young people each year by getting them outdoors with volunteer mentors for life-changing wilderness experiences. BCM’s unique model of 1 to 1 mentoring is proven to develop integrity, responsibility, improve communication skills and decision making abilities in youth from risk-filled environments through a nationally recognized developmental analysis tool. Given the opportunity to develop these skills alongside caring volunteer mentors creates positive lasting change in these youth who become more likely to stay in school and avoid drugs, gangs and violence. To learn more, please visit www.bigcitymountaineers.org.
