Youth outdoors group receives trust grant
Peak 7 Adventures, a Pacific Northwest-based outdoor adventure nonprofit targeting underserved youth, was recently awarded an $83,000 grant from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust to purchase two shuttle buses and new equipment for its Oregon branch, based in Central Oregon.
Of the $83,000 awarded, $47,000 is guaranteed while the remaining $36,000 is
contingent upon Peak 7 raising $72,000 by Dec. 31, 2014, in a 1-to-2 matching program.
Peak 7, which started in Spokane in 2006, opened an office in Seattle in 2010 and later that same year expanded into Oregon when it acquired Discovery Outfitters, a rafting & climbing nonprofit based in Canby, OR.
Though sufficiently safe, the current equipment, including rafts, sleeping bags, climbing gear, and vehicles, will soon need replacing in order for Peak 7 to maintain its safety standards.
“Peak 7 continues to be committed to providing outdoor adventures at the highest level of safety. Acquiring two vehicles and replacement gear for our Oregon location will ensure our ability to maintain our safety standards while allowing us to serve a greater number of youth from around the region,” says Ryan Kerrigan, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Peak 7.
“We are so blessed that our donors and foundations such as the Murdock Trust believe in what we are doing so much that they choose to support us in this way.”
To fulfill its portion of the Murdock grant requirement, Peak 7 is pursuing various potential sources of support, including additional grants, fundraising events, and individual donations. For those interested in supporting Peak 7 Adventures or for further information about the organization, please contact Ryan Rodin at (509) 467-5550 or ryan.rodin@peak7.org.
Peak 7 served more than 2,800 youth in 2012, up from 137 in 2006. Nearly 800 of those youth were from Oregon alone. It expects to serve more than 3,500 young adults this year.
Peak 7 Adventures is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Washington and Oregon serving youth, primarily those from underprivileged environments. Peak 7 uses whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain ascent trips to challenge young adults spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally to reach a greater potential. More information about Peak 7 can be found at: www.peak7.org.
