Kahtoola, creator of award-winning MICROspikes®, EXOspikes™ and NANOspikes® brand traction and performance-driven gaiters, is happy to announce the latest round of its “Kahtoola for the People” grants. The recipients include Tolani Lake Enterprises, Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, Snow Leopard Trust and Rise Against Hunger, who will utilize Kahtoola’s grant distributions to fund critical projects in indigenous communities in the upcoming months.
“For over 22 years, our vision has been to tie any success we have as a company to addressing greater needs in the world,” exclaimed Danny Giovale, founder of Kahtoola. “This year, our Kahtoola for the People grants have allowed us to focus not only on local communities near our home base in Flagstaff, but to extend a helping hand to peoples and indigenous cultures in Alaska, India and Africa. We are really proud to be able to support these non-profits who work hard to make the world a better place.”
A $6,000 grant was awarded to Tolani Lake Enterprises, who works in the southwestern section of Navajo Nation to strengthen food, water and economic security. The funds will be used to support programs for indigenous communities of the Dine and Hopi tribes at the Sihasin Garden. The garden provides a safe, inspiring open space for the community to learn about regenerative agriculture and the skills needed to become food entrepreneurs.
The Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association received a $5,000 grant to support their mission of protecting wild fisheries and traditional cultures, primarily Yup’ik and Athabascan people who have lived within the Yukon River drainage area for up to 10,000 years. The Yukon River is home to the longest salmon migration in the world and these salmon provide key dietary and cultural support for over forty-two rural Alaskan villages. Funding from Kahtoola’s grant will be used to help fishery-related activities that affect the Yukon River communities.
A $7,000 grant to the Snow Leopard Trust will support rural livelihoods, wildlife and conservation education in the Indian Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. In collaboration with rural communities that share habitat with snow leopards in the mountains of Asia, the Snow Leopard Trust develops innovative programs to help people co-exist more peacefully with snow leopards. These rare and charismatic big cats range over 12 Central Asian countries. Due to dwindling population numbers, snow leopard conservation in Himachal Pradesh is a high priority and grant funds will be used to help conserve traditional rural livelihoods while protecting critical habitat.
Rounding out the grants for 2021 is a $10,000 award to Rise Against Hunger which will be used to help empower communities through sustainable agriculture, including youth and women-centric projects in Mali and South Sudan. Rise Against Hunger and its 37 partners provided food assistance support across 41 countries. Collectively, they’ve ensured that 2.8 million people have access to at least one meal a day.
Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for the next round of grants by the application deadline of February 28, 2022. For more information on Kahtoola for the People grants or to submit an application, please visit Kahtoola.com.
About Kahtoola:
Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s gaiters, hiking crampons, and flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes®, EXOspikes™ and NANOspikes®, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product thoughtfully designed and vigorously tested at the brand’s Flagstaff, AZ headquarters high on the Colorado Plateau. Owned and operated by founder Danny Giovale, Kahtoola proudly grants 1% of annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures and improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.
