December 21, 2021 Boulder, CO — Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, today announced a new sponsorship by Amazon to fund the expansion of the Thrive Outside Community Initiative and broaden access to the transformative benefits of the outdoors. Amazon joins L.L. Bean, Patagonia, REI, Thule, VF Corporation, Winnebago Industries, Wolverine Worldwide and Yeti as a Thrive Outside Initiative Leadership Partner.
The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Initiative awards multi-year, capacity-building grants to diverse communities to build and strengthen networks that provide children and families with repeat and reinforcing experiences in the outdoors. Focused on reversing the declining trend of outdoor engagement by working at the grassroots level, the Initiative works to empower communities to make outdoor recreation an accessible lifestyle for all. Amazon’s commitment to support the Outdoor Foundation will fuel the growth and expansion of this critical nationwide initiative.
This support is needed now more than ever. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans turned to the outdoors, some for the first time and others for the first time in many years. These new outdoor participants represent an unprecedented opportunity to grow and diversify the outdoor community. With Amazon’s support, the Outdoor Foundation will help inspire a lifelong love of the outdoors in communities of focus through addressing outdoor equity barriers and providing access to community-led outdoor programming.
“We are grateful to Amazon for supporting Thrive Outside and the Foundation’s effort to help ensure that everyone one has equitable access to the transformative benefits of nature” said Stephanie Maez, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation. “Amazon’s investment will help fuel a nationwide movement by funding diverse Thrive Outside Communities and support our mission in helping to make a more inclusive and accessible outdoor experience for all.”
More details on the sponsorship, including information on cohort three of the Thrive Outside Community Initiative, with Amazon will be released in early 2022. Amazon is also a Leadership Member of the Outdoor Industry Association, supporting the outdoor industry’s leading trade association in their crucial work in trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation.
About Outdoor Foundation
The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, is a national 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to getting people outside for their health, the health of communities and the health of the outdoor industry. Through community investment and groundbreaking research, the Outdoor Foundation works with many partners to get more people outside more often. Visit outdoorfoundation.org for more information.
