Xcel Energy Awards $15,000 Grant to Colorado Mountain Club

Contacts:              Sarah Gorecki

303-996-2752

sarahgorecki@cmc.org

Rachel Scott

303-996-2746

rachelscott@cmc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- July 26, 2012

Xcel Energy Awards Grant to Colorado Mountain Club’s Conservation & Youth Education Efforts

Grants Connect Xcel Energy to Colorado Communities

GOLDEN, Colo—On July 20, the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) received a $15,000 grant from Xcel Energy.

The grant was made through the Environmental focus area for Xcel Energy’s corporate giving, part of the company’s effort to support nonprofit agencies providing services in towns and cities served by Xcel Energy.

“The success of our company is directly related to the health of our communities,” said Monique Lovato, Xcel Energy’s director of Corporate Giving. “While Xcel Energy’s employees invest in our local communities with charitable contributions and volunteer time, these grants are another way Xcel Energy shows our commitment to improving the quality of life in the towns and cities we serve.”

Through its focus area grants, Xcel Energy supports nonprofit 501c(3) organizations that improve science, technology, engineering, economics, and math education; improve and enhance the natural environment; help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency; and that provide access to arts and culture. In 2011, the company contributed $3.9 million in focus area grants to organizations across its eight-state service territory, which includes Colorado.

Funds will be used to support environmental and academic education through the CMC's Youth Education Program, as well as our slate of land stewardship projects in 2012.

“Xcel Energy is one of our most important corporate partners for getting kids outside and getting boots-on-the-ground stewardship accomplished, said CMC Development Director Sarah Gorecki. “Last year, our grant from Xcel Energy helped us to begin combining the two programs, by incorporating youth into our stewardship projects. We developed specific curricula to teach youth about giving back to the places they recreate in. We’re excited to continue to offer family-friendly and youth stewardship projects again this year. The grant also provides critical funding for our Youth Education Program and statewide stewardship projects.”

The CMC’s Youth Education Program provides opportunities for youth to learn about and explore the outdoors through hands-on activities in the classroom, at the American Mountaineering Center, or in local open space parks while CMC Conservation focuses on working with land management agencies, partner organizations, elected officials, and coalitions to permanently protect our last remaining roadless areas and the ecological integrity of our region.

About the Colorado Mountain Club

The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to adventure, education and preservation in Colorado. Established in 1912 by mountaineering enthusiasts, CMC now has more than 7,000 members statewide who explore and protect the wild areas of Colorado. CMC offers hundreds of events and classes for all ages and abilities. Throughout its history, the club has been instrumental in landmark achievements such as the designation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and the passage of the Wilderness Act. To become a member, visit www.cmc.org.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.

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The North Face Awards Explore Fund Grant to the Colorado Mountain Club

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

	Contact: SarahGorecki                                                                                                           Colorado Mountain Club                   sarahgorecki@cmc.org                      303-996-2752

 The North Face Awards Explore Fund Grant to the Colorado Mountain Club

CMC’s Youth Education Program supports a national effort to increase outdoor exploration among Colorado youth

GOLDEN, Colo – June 11, 2012 – The North Face has awarded an Explore Fund grant to the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) for the Youth Education Program (YEP). The Explore Fund’s mission is to inspire and enable the next generation of explorers by funding nonprofit organizations that are working to re-connect children with nature. By encouraging an active healthy lifestyle and protection of our natural landscapes, a stronger connection of youth to the outdoors can be nurtured. The CMC’s Youth Education Program provides opportunities for youth to learn about and explore the outdoors through hands-on activities in the classroom, at the American Mountaineering Center, or in local open space parks with the classes and courses organized to meet the needs of teachers and individuals.

The CMC was selected from over five hundred applications submitted for the first of two grant cycles in 2012, because of the CMC’s devotion to connecting those who love the Colorado Rockies or who study or seek recreation in them.

Since The Explore Fund was initiated in 2010, The North Face has provided $625,000 in grants to non-profits working to connect youth to the outdoors.

"As I child, I had the great fortune to hike through a meadows of wildflowers, wade in crystal clear creeks, and climb Colorado's majestic peaks. Unfortunately, today fewer and fewer kids have those kinds of outdoor experiences,” said Brenda Porter, Operations Director of the CMC. “The competing forces of video games, T.V. time, and increasing rates of childhood obesity make it more important than ever to provide youth with active outdoor adventures. Thanks to support from the North Face Explore Fund, CMC will continue to engage a broad spectrum of youth in mountain education and adventures during our summer camps and school-day field trips.”   

The Youth Education Program was established in 1999 to share the CMC’s mission with a wider audience, specifically youth. In addition, as CMC’s facility emerged into a world-class center complete with auditorium, conference center, and library, it became an ideal destination for school and youth group field trips. Since its founding, the CMC's Youth Education Program continues to provide opportunities for over 5,000 kids annually to experience the natural world through active learning adventures—essential opportunities to help combat childhood obesity and prevent "nature deficit disorder." 

In addition, the CMC’s Youth Education Program has been able to advance the mission exponentially with the support of several important partner organizations including the Scientific Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

“The Outdoor Foundation has identified that a barrier to getting youth outdoors is lack of opportunity for kids to learn about and actually get to outdoors. We believe this has to happen at a grass roots, community level,” said Ann Krcik, director of Outdoor Participation at The North Face. “During the granting process, we make a conscious effort to reflect on what we refer to as the virtuous cycle. We first need to provide the opportunity for kids to get outside and play. If we can provide them with an initial positive experience outdoors, they will grow up inspired to care about their natural world.”

To learn more the CMC’s Youth Education Program, visit www.cmc.org/yep.  For more information about The North Face Explore Fund, please visit www.explorefund.org.

About the Colorado Mountain Club

The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to adventure, education and preservation in Colorado. Established in 1912 by mountaineering enthusiasts, CMC now has more than 7,000 members statewide who explore and protect the wild areas of Colorado. CMC offers hundreds of events and classes for all ages and abilities. Throughout its history, the club has been instrumental in landmark achievements such as the designation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and the passage of the Wilderness Act. To become a member, visit www.cmc.org.

About The North Face®

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

About PlanetExplore

PlanetExplore is an online community founded by The North Face, powered by partner organizations that share a passion for the outdoors, and designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to enjoy the benefits gained through a connection to nature. 

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