The REI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored by outdoor gear retailer REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), has awarded its $50,000 Mary Anderson Legacy Grant annual fund to The Mountaineers. The Mountaineers is a Seattle-based nonprofit established in 1905 that is dedicated to outdoor education, recreation, and conservation.
The Mary Anderson Legacy Grant annual fund was created by Mary Anderson, a co-founder of REI. The fund will help expand nonprofit youth mountaineering education programs and support their efforts to secure scholarships. Both initiatives are part of The Mountaineers’ Youth & Family Engagement program. In 2010–2011, the organization provided 1,260 youth outdoor experiences, including 40 mountain workshops, with nearly 550 participants.
The mission of The Mountaineers is to enrich the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest. This historic nonprofit now has 10,000 members, many of whom are active volunteers who help make outdoor education courses available to the public.
“The Mountaineers is a highly respected organization in the Northwest that has introduced many people to the outdoors,” said Michael Collins, president of the REI Foundation. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to support The Mountaineers in expanding its youth programs. These programs are not only exciting and important, but they’ve also achieved significant results in a short time. This partnership between The Mountaineers and the REI Foundation is very meaningful.”
