Chris Anthony Adventures : Youth Initiative

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Youth Initiative

CHRIS ANTHONY’S YOUTH INITIATIVE PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT

To seek out well-established, reputable and experienced youth or young adult oriented 501c organizations that have a common thread of goals. They must provide education, confidence and community building opportunities.

Through the initiative’s alliance, Chris will expand the curriculum of the organizations existing design by utilizing assets he has obtained through his career. This will provide the partner 501c another tool of which to positively accomplish its own mission, while reaching a greater number of people.

Chris chose creating an initiative over building his own 501c as he feels that a number of fantastic and reputable organizations already exist.

Why try to fix it if its not broken. Give it an opportunity to be even better.

THE YOUTH INITIATIVE PROJECT’S objective is to not interfere but to enhance the common goal of the alliance.

Current Partners (details below)

SOS OUTREACH
FIRST DESCENTS
THE CHILDREN HOSPITAL SPORTS PROGRAM

Donated time and presence to the following charitable organizations:

Lake Eldora Ski and Snowboard Club
Montessori school of Denver
Vail Valley Charitable Fund
Heuga Center
E.P.I.C Foundation
Jeremy Blooms Wish of a Lifetime
Boys and Girls Club
Colorado Ski Museum

Partnership with Chris Anthony Youth Initiative:

1. SOS Outreach (sosoutreach.org)

“A nonprofit building character in youth through outdoor adventure”

SOS Outreach was founded in 1993 in Colorado’s Vail Valley. As a nonprofit organization, our programs build character and self-esteem in youth through outdoor activities and the SOS curriculum. SOS is on pace to serve more than 4,500 youth across the nation in 2009-2010.

SOS Outreach began as the Snowboard Outreach Society, before expanding to include skiing. This past winter, we began snowshoeing and telemark skiing programs as well. In January, we merged with Meet the Wilderness, which has served a similar demographic with outdoor sports since 1974. The merger means SOS Outreach is now a year-round, perennial organization that - in addition to snowsports - now includes activities like rock climbing, teams courses, hiking and camping.

Each SOS program integrates the five core values of our organization:
Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion.

CHRIS ANTHONY partnered with SOS Outreach during the 2009 –2010 by adding value to mentoring efforts of SOS OUTREACH as well as the marketing and exposure of the SOS programs. As a spokesperson for COLORADO SKI COUNTRIE’S 5th grade Passport Program (whom does not carry a tax exempt status) Chris saw a threat of the 5th grade program disappearing with the lack of Vail Resorts being a member of Colorado Ski Countries pool. The cutting of funds inspired Chris to find a 501c to partner the 5th Grade Passport Program School visits with. SOS OOUTREACH was the perfect fit.

Chris visits school throughout the state. He has expanded the audience from just elementary schools to include middle schools to high schools as well as reaching out to special needs programs.

The hour-long school talks vary depending on age group. But in general are meant to expand the young minds of the students to look far beyond the classroom into other cultural, geographical locations and beliefs while inspiring them to set goals for themselves and dream anything is possible. SOS OUTREACH follows this up by providing the opportunity to actually take the students out of the classroom and into the mountains.

In the long run students realize the world that is open to them and how through work can reach it as well as protect it.

Through his efforts funds were raised to put a few hundred kids through the program while introducing the it to thousands.

2. FIRST DESCENTS (Firstdescents.org)

“Adventure Therapy”

Mission statement:

First Descents is committed to curing young adults of the emotional effects of cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing whitewater kayaking and other challenging adventure sports in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Why is this our mission?:

It is our hope that we can improve the lives of young adults with cancer by offering whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventure sports. These experiences significantly increase self-confidence.

Self-confidence empowers people affected by cancer to regain control of their lives. First Descents is not just giving young adults with cancer their self-confidence back, we’re also connecting a largely disconnected population. First Descents helps shatter the illusion that cancer makes people fragile. In the end First Descents helps heal the emotional scars cancer left behind. Also, cancer is the disease with the lowest survival rate among 18-39 year olds. Every year, nearly 65,000 young adults between the ages of 15 and 40 are diagnosed with cancer.

CHRIS ANTHONY Youth Initiative partnered with FD since it interception through fund raising efforts and volunteering. During the 2009 –2010 Chris stepped this up by adding value added mentoring effort into FD’s curriculum as well as increased the marketing and exposure of the FD program. Along with those efforts money brought in by this partnership secured 10 more scholarships for young adults fighting cancer to participate.

In the upcoming season Chris Anthony will continue the partnership through his initiative as well as host educational events for the public to participate in as an effort to expand the reach of FD as well as it fund raising efforts.

Fund Raising efforts will include some special speaking engagements open to the public and used to bring exposure to FD while

3. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SPORTS PROGRAM

“Chris Anthony Ski Day”

During the fall of 2009 Chris Anthony step up his relationship with the CHSP after being inspired by the program following gala he emceed for the Young Fund.

Chris was able to raise enough funds through the Youth Initiative and one private donation to take 10 young adults dealing with life long health issues for a day of skiing. This was followed up with a trip to the annual Warren Miller Film premiere and backstage passes.

Go to Chris' Blog at RealVail.com