Summit for Someone Benefit Climb Program Experiences Growth

Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone Benefit Climb Program Experiences Third Year of Triple-Digit Growth

(Denver, Colo) – Big City Mountaineers announces that its Backpacker Magazine Summit for Someone 2007 benefit climb program has increased 300 percent from 2006. Thanks to significant promotional efforts of this program’s Title and Supporting Sponsors, including Backpacker Magazine, JanSport and Keen, Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone benefit climb program has emerged as the preeminent mountaineering-based fundraising program in the country.

The exceptional growth of Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone program will allow Big City Mountaineers to expand its national teen recreational mentoring program by 50 percent during 2007, giving over 250 inner city teens the opportunity to participate in BCM’s life-changing program.

“Our benefit climb program continues to experience unprecedented growth,” comments Mark Godley, Big City Mountaineers’ Executive Director. “Thanks to the promotional engine of our outstanding sponsors, the kind product support of a long list of outdoor industry leaders, and the generosity of the most experienced mountaineering guides in the country, BCM has been able to create a benefit climb program with tremendous appeal and in which everyone wins, most importantly the teens in our recreational mentoring program.”

“All of us at Backpacker Magazine, as well as our sister publications at Rodale, are overjoyed by our ability to leverage our brands for such a worthy cause as Big City Mountaineers,” says Chris Lambiase, Publisher of Backpacker Magazine. “Our support of Summit for Someone is a great example of the community involvement that is a cornerstone of Rodale’s culture. I can’t think of a better example of an organization partnering with Backpacker and Rodale than the benefit climb program that Big City Mountaineers’ has been able to create.”

Participants in Backpacker Magazine’s 2007 Summit for Someone benefit climb program each raised $3,500 in donations and chose between 47 professionally guided climbs on 13 of the most sought after alpine climbs in North America. Each participant receives over $3,000 of gear for his/her climb, generously provided by leading outdoor industry manufacturers, including Backpacker Magazine, Big Agnes, Black Diamond Equipment, Camelbak, HighGear USA, Honey Stinger, Ibex, JanSport, Jetboil, Keen, LaSportiva, Leki USA, Mammut, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Research, Petzl, Princeton Tec, Protech Skin Care and Thorlos. BCM’s guide partners, all of whom donate a portion of their services to guide as part of this program, include Acadia Mountain Guides, Colorado Mountain School, Craig Van Hoy’s Go Trek & Expeditions, EMS Guiding & Climbing School, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, Rainier Mountaineering, Inc, Shasta Mountain Guides and Sierra Mountaineering International.

To learn more, please go to www.summitforsomeone.org.

About Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone & Big City Mountaineers
Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone is a benefit climb series owned by and to benefit Big City Mountaineers. BCM, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is the country’s leading volunteer organization devoted to providing significant mentoring during wilderness trips, for urban teens participating in existing youth development programs. Learn more at www.bigcitymountaineers.org.