The VF Foundation announced its renewed commitment to the Outdoor Foundation with a multi-year grant of $500,000. The grant funds will support the Thrive Outside Initiative, a national network of partners working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all.
The VF Foundation’s investment enables the Outdoor Foundation to welcome Boulder County and the surrounding Denver metro area to cohort three of Thrive Outside Communities, growing the initiative to 13 regions nationwide.
“We are deeply grateful to the VF Foundation for renewing our partnership and helping grow the Thrive Outside Initiative to new heights,” said Stephanie Maez, Outdoor Foundation Executive Director. “Due to the abundant recreation opportunities and outdoor equity barriers in certain areas of Colorado, the Denver and Boulder region is a wonderful fit for Thrive Outside. The VF Foundation’s grant renewal will help us address equity and access barriers such as income inequality that prevent diverse youth from accessing the outdoor recreation hotspot that is Colorado’s front range. We look forward to leveraging Thrive Outside to develop and nurture partnerships between Boulder County and Denver-based outdoor youth development and environmental organizations.”
The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities with the goal of providing children and families with positive, repeat experiences in the outdoors. Research shows that time in nature provides benefits of improved physical and mental health, reduced depression, reduced anxiety and stress, and improved social connection.
Yet, access to nature is not equal across populations. People of color are three times more likely than white people to live in nature-deprived areas, and 70 percent of low-income communities live in areas lacking green spaces. The Outdoor Foundation addresses these inequities and helps make the outdoors accessible for all.
Denver/Boulder Thrive Outside will focus on addressing equity barriers for diverse youth and families in these Colorado areas Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and Denver by unlocking access to the outdoor places and experiences for which Denver and Boulder region is world-renowned.
Thorne Nature Experience will serve as the backbone organization for the Denver/Boulder Thrive Outside region. Backbone organizations serve as the coordinating bodies within Thrive Outside regions that bring together diverse stakeholders and lead synchronized efforts towards the network’s common goal.
The Outdoor Foundation’s work would not be possible without the generous support of its Community Leadership Partners Amazon, Carhartt, L.L.Bean, Patagonia, REI, Thule, VF Foundation, Winnebago Industries, and Yeti.
Visit outdoorfoundation.org for more information.
