SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH—The North Face has awarded a $2500 grant to SheJumps to help children and families explore the outdoors. SheJumps strives to increase female participation in outdoor activities by building upon a supportive community that inspires its members to reach their highest potential. SheJumps was selected from hundreds of applications because of (S)he Jumps into the Canyon’s goal is to get more individuals into the outdoors. The grant is part of the inaugural commitment of $250,000 from The North Face Explore Fund, enabling more than 100 programs that will affect an estimated 85,000 young people.

“I am so proud to accept the North Face Explore Grant on behalf of SheJumps,” said Executive Director Claire Smallwood. “It is truly an amazing thing to see a company like The North Face supporting our mission to invest in the future of our youth by exposing them to a healthy mountain lifestyle, a value that offers a lifetime of possibilities.”

(S)he Jumps Into The Canyon was established in 2009 to work with as many Boys & Girls club teens as possible in order to inspire them in the mountain setting by offering creative avenues for physical expression that are completely free for them to try. Since it’s founding, the program has provided a month long opportunity for 9 thru 17 year olds to learn about fitness, skiing fundamentals and using public transportation to reach the mountain. The information about health and public transportation SheJumps provides to these individuals not only helps them but also carries over to their friends and families. The program tries to not just teach them how to ski but to implement healthier lives through exercise and using public transportation. In addition, SheJumps has been able to advance the mission exponentially with the support of several important partner organizations like Alta Ski Lifts, Rossignol, and The Billy Poole Ski Foundation to help provide support for successful programming. Additionally, SheJumps receives in-kind donations from the Deep Powder House, Alta Ski Shop, Alta Peruvian Lodge, Goldminer’s Daughter, R.E.I., Discrete Headwear, Black Diamond, Sorel, Smith Optics, Backcountry Access and other great outdoor industry companies. SheJumps would not be as successful in reaching those with their programming without the continued support from these companies that share the same passion for the outdoors.

“Our goal is to enable more people to get outside and explore their world in ways that are meaningful to them,” said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face.  “We’re very proud to launch the Explore Fund and support SheJumps and the other impressive organizations that are making outdoor exploration possible, and a priority, in communities across the country.”

(S)he Jumps into the Canyon will launch in February with pre-snow dryland training and officially have the first on snow day March 5th.  If you would like to be a coach for the program or to learn more about SheJumps and (S)he Jumps into the Canyon visit www.shejumps.org. To learn more about all of the Explore Fund grantees and to keep up on their progress visit www.planetexplore.com.
About SheJumps

The mission of SheJumps strives to increase female participation in outdoor activities by building upon a supportive community that inspires its members to reach their highest potential. SheJumps is a 501c(3) organization. The vision of SheJumps is to create a community of ambitious and compassionate women that are willing to take a "jump" to reach their potential and help others reach their own. Toward this end, SheJumps will undertake the following activities; develop directories of leading women in the outdoors world as resources, collect outdoor gear and create a lending system to provide appropriate outdoor equipment for women, promote and encourage responsible outdoor education and environmental awareness for all outdoor enthusiasts in addition to other initiatives.

About The North Face Explore Fund
The North Face® Explore FundTM is a grant program committed to supporting nonprofit, community organizations that break down the barriers preventing children and families from experiencing the outdoors. The Explore Fund, administered by The Outdoor Foundation, finds, engages and provides funding for new partners that help further the mission of inspiring the next generation of explorers and conservationists by helping them discover nature's playground.

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. 

For more information, please visit our websites:
The Explore Fund www.explorefund.com
Planet Explore www.planetexplore.com