Grants update: Family Programs blossoming with new support!

Because our good news is also your good news, we find it particularly exciting. Area foundations have been especially supportive of our Family & Community Programs Initiative during March, helping us ensure that the programs continue to remove barriers families face in getting outdoors.
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Paving the way to wellness

Venture Outdoors (VO) Family & Community Programs are slated to serve more individuals than ever this year thanks to new funding for programs and equipment from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Highmark has awarded VO with a $12,500 for this initiative, sponsoring events throughout the year, including four Family Outdoor Festivals and 13 community programs. Additional funds will provide equipment for urban programming including snowshoes and handheld GPS units, as well as 500 family passes to remove economic barriers to growing participation in outdoor recreation.

“Our ultimate goal is to leave no community without access to nature, said Sean Brady, Assistant Executive Director at Venture Outdoors. “An estimated 17% of Allegheny County residents are minorities. We asked, ‘how we can extend the health, wellness, and social benefits of our programs to all of those residents?’ The Family & Community Programs Initiative provides free and affordable, beginner-friendly outings that take place in diverse neighborhoods throughout Pittsburgh.”

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VO to Propel Conservation Efforts

A new collaboration will rally support for environmental organizations

Conservation organizations in Western Pennsylvania have gained a new set of tools to engage the public. Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Colcom Foundation, Venture Outdoors will launch their “Environmental Catalyst Program,” a movement to use their portable climbing walls, kayaks, hiking trips, bike tours, and even snowshoe outings to showcase environmental efforts in the region.

These new programs will combine the social camaraderie of a Venture Outdoors outing with the inside knowledge of conservation biologists and naturalists, who can tell the natural history and human history stories of their nature preserves. Funding will also help sites develop improved infrastructure to welcome future visitors.
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Grants Update: Three in one

Jackson Charitable Trust backs Family & Community Programs
Venture Outdoors just heard from the trustees of the John E. and Sue M. Jackson Charitable Trust that they’re awarding $2,500 in support of the Family and Community Programs, which seek to make getting outside easy for families with weekly family programming, monthly Family Outdoor Fests, community outreach and more!

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Family and Community Programs receive McKinney grant!

The William V. and Catherine A. McKinney Charitable Foundation just awarded Venture Outdoors $5,000 for Family and Community Programs! Thanks to a 2006 grant from the McKinney Foundation, we were able to purchase a fleet of bicycles to use in our Youth Programs, and we expect this year’s support to have lasting effects, as well. This funding will support our initiative that kicked off this summer with festivals and events designed to be welcoming and affordable to younger participants and their families.
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REI awards $10,000 grant to Venture Outdoors

Venture Outdoors has received a $10,000 grant from REI in support of the Family and Community Programs Initiative. This multi-year Initiative seeks to reach more families in diverse communities through outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship programs. By engaging children and their families, VO is nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards. By diversifying the outdoors community, VO is also strengthening and diversifying environmental stewardship for the region’s natural resources.
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Spark Funds Geocaching Training

The Sprout Fund’s newest initiative, Spark, has announced it will fund a Venture Outdoors Train-the-Trainer Geocaching Curriculum. With the $7,330 awarded, Venture Outdoors will develop a Train-the-Trainer Geocaching Program for childcare centers in Allegheny County. The project will utilize satellite technology and hand-held GPS units to engage children and their caregivers in active, outdoor recreation. Childcare Centers, such as the test site, Riverview Children’s Center, will be empowered to create and run geocaching courses for their young participants.
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Richard King Mellon Foundation Awards Venture Outdoors Grant

Building upon the momentum and accomplishments of Venture Outdoors over our first eight years, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded Venture Outdoors a 2009 grant for $150,000 which provides funding for strategic initiatives, operating support and sustainability projects. These include development and enhancement of operations, membership, metrics, social enterprise and implementation of the strategic plan.

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Weisbrod Foundation Funds Inclusivity Initiative

The Robert and Mary Weisbrod Foundation recently awarded Venture Outdoors a $10,000 grant for the multi-year Inclusivity Initiative. The Inclusivity Initiative seeks to remove cultural and economic barriers faced by families in developing healthier lifestyles, environmental awareness, and enhanced civic engagement. In 2006, the Weisbrod Foundation purchased a fleet of bicycles, which has helped VO to double the number of youth served to more than 2,000 children and adolescents per year. Read more

Retailer backs urban outdoors initiative

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008
By Randy Lieberman, Special to the Post-Gazette

“In [L.L. Bean's] efforts to establish a store in Pittsburgh, they did research here to find out about the area and found us,” said Sean Brady, assistant executive director of Venture Outdoors. “In our discussions with them, we discussed the Family and Community Programs Initiative and they thought it very closely matched their corporate goals here.”

Read the entire article.

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