We are incredibly grateful for all the ways individuals, foundations, nonprofit organizations, schools, and local governments support our work. Partnerships across all sectors and communities is a major focus of our work at the Outdoor Lab Foundation. In the following story you will learn more about how our incredible partners ensure our students have a safe, fun, and impactful experience while at Outdoor Lab. We could not do this work without our partners.
Today, we are celebrating our corporate partners who play a particularly vital role in strengthening and sustaining Outdoor Lab.
Corporate partners are more than just cash sponsors (but yes we like that too!). They are issue experts, hands on volunteers, and connectors. Corporate partners support all aspects of Outdoor Lab and the Foundation’s work. They ensure the monetary resources are available for us to accomplish our mission but also they donate brand new clothing and equipment to our gear libraries, volunteer to maintain and beautify our mountain campuses, give presentations to our students during evening programs, and help us expand our communications reach.
Here are a few great examples of how our corporate partners have made an impact this year.
Exxel Outdoors – Exxel Outdoors is the parent company to well-regarded outdoor brands, Kelty, Slumberjack, High Sierra, and Ultimate Direction. Their staff created a terrific evening presentation for Everritt Middle School students in which they led a “Backpack Olympics” game and helped students build model tents. The activities were both fun and educational, imparting an understanding of the science, engineering, and technology that goes into your outdoor gear.
Newmont Corporation – Newmont has had a longstanding relationship with Outdoor Lab’s Mount Evans campus. This summer, employees from the company are working on a trail construction and maintenance project on our Leave No Trace trail and organizing a “Boot Drive” at their downtown office.
Propeller – The company has provided expert consulting services to support the creation of our strategic plan and write a new student satisfaction survey. Their time for these projects was valued at over $6,000. In addition, they organized a team to take part in our Mount Evans workday.
Waste Management – We are proud to welcome this new corporate sponsor who recently made an initial gift of $5,000 to support our work. We look forward to growing our relationship with the company and their employees in the years ahead.
CORE Electric Cooperative – CORE have been one the Foundation’s longest standing corporate partners. Dating back to 2015, the company has contributed $45,000 to strengthen our work! Having consistent cash support like this is deeply meaningful because it allows us to plan for the future with confidence.
Valorem Financial – Kim Gieseler, Co-Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor for the firm, has been a lover of the program since her days as a student attending Outdoor Lab and as a High School Leader. Kim is Chair of the Board of Directors and, as one of our most stalwart volunteers, has given countless hours to ensure the success of the organization. In addition to her personal contributions, Valorem has made donations and purchased tables at our After Dark Fundraiser. In total, Valorem’s contributions to the organization total nearly $20,000.
We are also grateful for the support of Martin Marietta which made an initial gift of $1,000 to support our work and First Western Trust which has now returned as a support with a second consecutive $2,500 donation. Other corporate partners include Zupkus & Angell, Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, Mountainsmith, Highlands Sport and Spine, Mountain Time Soap Shop, Chapman Orthodontics, and CertaPro Painters.
Thank you to every corporate partner, event sponsor, and volunteer who has helped make Outdoor Lab a signature experience for our young people over the years.
To learn more about becoming a corporate partner, email Bryan Martin or call 720-403-8241 x1001
