The North Face Explore Fund Invites Community to Choose a Worthy Cause

ALAMEDA, Calif., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Face today announced that it has awarded Explore Fund grants of $2,500 to 30 projects dedicated to getting more youth outside and connected to nature. In addition to this $75,000 commitment, The North Face has chosen 10 organizations to be in the running to win up to $25,000 in grants. Beginning today, The North Face is inviting its community to vote on Facebook for the organization of their choice, giving fans a chance to be directly involved in supporting a great cause.

The North Face Explore Fund recipients were chosen based on their commitment to one of three different focus areas: access to front and back country recreation, education for personal and environmental health, and creating a connection to nature that will empower the future leaders of tomorrow. The top 10 organizations created a video "anthem" featuring how they connect youth to the outdoors.  After Facebook community votes are tallied, the top five organizations will be awarded $25,000 and the remaining non-profits will receive $10,000 grants.

View grantee videos and vote for a favorite cause at The North Face Facebook Page to support The North Face mission to start a global movement of Outdoor Exploration. Winners will be announced on Aug. 1 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Top 10 Grantees:

• American Alpine Club, Climber Corps.
• Austin Explore, Explore Program
• Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, Powder Hounds Ski and Snowboard Program
• First Descents
• Gedakina, Keepers of the Earth
• North Cascades Institute, Youth Leadership Adventures
• Peak 7 Adventures, Youth River Quest
• Teens to Trails
• Voyageur Outward Bound School, Urban Youth Go Outward Bound
• Yellowstone Park Foundation, Park Journeys Yellowstone

"This year, not only do we want to enable organizations that are inspiring the next generation of outdoor explorers and conservationists, but we want to empower our fans who share our passion for getting more kids outside," said Ann Krcik, director of Outdoor Exploration at The North Face. "We believe that if you can get kids to love the outdoors, not only will they develop skills that will help them throughout life, but they will grow up to care about their natural world, protecting the places they explore."

As part of its mission to start a global movement of Outdoor Exploration, The North Face introduced the Explore Fund (www.explorefund.org) in 2010 and the program has since provided more than $1 Million in grants globally to organizations committed to inspiring the next generation of outdoor explorers and conservationists. Since launching in 2010, The North Face has donated more than $765,000 to over 300 nonprofit organizations in the U.S.

For more information on this cycle's grantees, please visit www.explorefund.org. Vote for 2013 Top 10 Explore Fund Grantees on The North Face facebook page: http://www.bit.ly/TNFExploreFund

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in Alameda, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

SOURCE The North Face