The Youth Outdoors Legacy Fund announces 2011 program year grants

Seattle, Wash. and Salt Lake City, Utah – With the determination of those committed to a life rich in outdoor experiences, the Youth Outdoor Legacy Foundation board has navigated through a tough economic journey. In 2011, YOLF granted $110,000 to 8 organizations and is poised to implement an updated funding strategy in 2012. The YOLF mission includes two important commitments: get more kids outdoors and assist the volunteers who help create meaningful moments with quality programs which ignite kids’ own legacy of outdoor experience. Now embarking on year 7, to date YOLF has issued grants exceeding $847,000 to 65 youth outdoor groups across the U.S. in support of the mission established when it began in 2005.

These 8 organizations received program year grants during 2011 from YOLF:

1. Appalachian Mountain Club (Boston, Mass.) – $15,000 to support the Youth Opportunities Program in the Northeast

2. Bay Area Wilderness Training (Oakland, Calif.) – $15,000 to support Wilderness Leadership Training

3. The Colorado Mountain Club (Denver, Colo.) – $10,000 to support the Youth Education Program

4. YMCA of Greater Seattle (Seattle, Wash.) – $12,500 to support the BOLD Program

5. Outdoor Outreach (San Diego, Calif.) – $15,000 to support the Outdoor Outreach Program

6. Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. (Waukegan, Ill.) – $12,500 to provide general support

7. The Sierra Club Foundation (Seattle, Wash.) – $15,000 to support Inner City Outings

8. Rocking the Boat (New York, N.Y.) – $15,000 to support education programming and restoration on the Bronx River

Because of the economic stresses borne by non-profit groups and the foundations that have supported them, the YOLF board of directors has carefully reviewed the economic sustainability of funding to deliver its mission. Recognizing that many excellent youth outdoor programs have weakened or even folded, the board is considering an approach that consolidates funding to a specific program with wide outreach.

“We plan to issue another announcement regarding our new funding strategy very soon. Investing in our youth outdoors mission takes time and careful research,” said YOLF founder Dennis Madsen.

About YOLF

The Youth Outdoor Legacy Fund begins year 7 supporting effective outreach to programs around the United States and is supported by generous private donors as well as these outdoor industry leaders: Patagonia, Merrell, REI, Columbia Sportswear, prAna, WL Gore, YoungOne Corporation, Black Diamond, KEEN Footwear, and the VF Corporation. The fund is being administered through the Seattle Foundation (www.seattlefoundation.org), a highly respected and professionally managed community foundation. Grant making is overseen by the Youth Outdoors Legacy Fund advisory board. YOLF was created in 2005 with the vision to engage young people in outdoor recreation while at the same time preparing them to be our future outdoor advocates. To learn more about the foundation and the programs it supports, visit the website at www.youthoutdoorslegacyfund.org. To add your support to YOLF, contact Dennis Madsen by e-mail at dmadsen@youthoutdoorslegacyfund.org or call 206.713.1821.