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Backcountry.com to Donate Returns to Gear to Grow

TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2010


PARK CITY, UTAH — When Gear to Grow first approached Backcountry.com for donations, the Salt Lake City-based nonprofit was a fledgling 501(c)(3) with big dreams and a mission completely aligned with the online gear retailer: getting people outside. Backcountry knew a good thing when they saw it. After a few months as the founding donor for Gear to Grow, Backcountry.com has now pledged to donate all non-resale-able returns — more than a quarter of a million dollars a year in premium outdoor gear — to the organization. Gear to Grow brokers gear donations between retailers and vendors and other non-profits whose work grants people of all abilities and economic means access to outdoor adventures.

With the help of Backcountry.com’s gear donations, Gear to Grow has gone from supporting six non-profits to supporting 25 in just six months of operation. “We’re supporting big organizations — like Leave no Trace and Big City Mountaineers — and individuals too — like two guys canoeing the Mississippi river to raise awareness for breast cancer. The common need is gear, and we fill that need,” said J.T. Vonlunen, Executive Director of Gear to Grow. “Most of these organizations’ budgets go to operational costs, and there’s no money left over for gear.”

“Gear to Grow has already proven to be a successful program in its first year and we’re honored to be a small part of the impact that they make,” says Marit Fischer, spokesperson for Backcountry.com. “We’re happy to build upon and expand our support for this unique organization whose cause strongly resonates with Backcountry.com, our employees, and our customers.”

So far this year, Backcountry.com has donated just over $147,000-worth of gear. According to last year’s numbers, Backcountry.com’s pledge to donate returned gear will translate to approximately 4,650 items with a total retail value of more than $300,000.

“It’s truly overwhelming what our relationship with Backcountry.com has meant to us and our beneficiaries. These organizations never thought they’d see the amount of gear they’ve been receiving, thanks to Backcountry.com,” says Vonlunen. “Backcountry.com planted the seed for our program to grow, and now, it’s growing.”

For more information on Gear to Grow, visit www.geartogrow.org

Source: www.prlog.org

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