Non-profit Partners

FEATURED PROJECT: Save Skaha UPDATE

UPDATE: Access to Skaha Bluffs—a rare desert eco-system but also one of Canada’s premiere climbing destinations—is now guaranteed with an announcement on January 19, 2008 by The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC), the Government of British Columbia and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) that the deal to purchase a 304-hectare property adjacent to the Bluffs has been finalized.

“This is a great day for the climbing community and for conservation in Canada,” said MEC CEO David Labistour. “We extend our gratitude to TLC for their hard work to pull the deal together and to all parties who contributed to the land purchase, including the federal and provincial governments, NCC, the Climbers’ Access Society of BC and the hundreds of MEC members who donated to the campaign.”

Local climber and guidebook author Howie Richardson said, “This is truly a landmark deal, the culmination of 20 years of effort that came to fruition because of the shared vision and generosity of many individuals and organizations. Climbers and conservationists will be elated that they and their children are now assured of enjoying this jewel of the Okanagan in the future.”

Read about this significant victory for climbers at the Alpinist.

WALKING THE TALK
Quite simply, we love to give back. Since our beginning as Chouinard Equipment in 1958, we’ve been supporting organizations and communities that are critical to the survival of our sports. In fact, it’s the way we do business. It’s our style. This kind of support is an integral part of Black Diamond’s culture and a driving force behind our business. We feel it’s our responsibility to play a key role in our local community and the climbing and backcountry skiing communities at large—it is as important to us as the gear we create.

In reality, our support extends far beyond financial backing. Black Diamond offers advisory services, employee volunteers and facilities to our non-profit partners and industry friends. We’ve gone to Washington to lobby for our partners’ causes, held letter-writing campaigns on our campus and helped create momentum through publicity in our catalogs. On a grassroots level, we aim to support local causes and movements wherever we do business. Our sales representatives play an active role in the communities they serve and our employees take part in trail cleanups and local preservation efforts.

Bottom line: We hope that by acting as a responsible corporate citizen, Black Diamond can help non-profit and industry partners further their causes. As a vibrant supporter of our local and extended communities, we hope to act as a role model for others, and collectively make a difference—now and in the future. Learn about some of the

we've been involved with.

FIRST TIER
Black Diamond offers these organizations more than just financial support including consulting services, employee volunteers, product and publicity in an effort to ensure their presence far into the future.

Access Fund
Dedicated to preserving access to climbing areas across the nation, the Access Fund lobbies on behalf of one million rock climbers and mountaineers in America. In 2002, Black Diamond received the “Sharp End” award, which acknowledges leadership and activism in preserving climbing access and the climbing environment. Black Diamond contributes cash, time and product to the Access Fund—and assists all employees in becoming members by matching membership fees. www.accessfund.org
(303) 545-6772

Also, take a look at a new Access Fund Initiative called The boulderProject. The Access Fund states, "The boulderProject is a community of climbers that give a S#!@t about what happens to our climbing areas. Practicing low impact climbing and encouraging others to do the same is how we get it done, ’cause that’s the only way to be assured that we always have places to climb."

Rock is finite. Keep access infinite. Don’t just sit there—Join the community.

American Alpine Club

For AAC Members, climbing is a way of life. Together we share our passion, promote local and global conservation, protect and restore the alpine environment and celebrate the vertical world. 

Founded in 1902, the non-profit AAC is the only national organization in the United States for ALL climbers. The AAC offers more grant funding to climbers than any other organization, in 2007 funding for climbers will exceed $60,000. The AAC keeps track of the world’s most significant big climbs in the American Alpine Journal, houses the Western Hemisphere’s only significant climbing library and is building a museum to house our story and share it with the rest of the world.Since 1970 the AAC has operated the idyllic Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch, and is currently in active pursuit of opening new facilities where climbers need them. AAC members are also protected by worldwide rescue insurance.

Black Diamond is proud to be a Patron-level supporter of the AAC and applauds its efforts to organize and support climbers of all disciplines. To join, renew, or apply for grants online, visit: www.AmericanAlpineClub.org. 303-384-0110

American Mountain Guides Association
The American Mountain Guides Association is a non-profit organization that seeks to represent the interests of American mountain guides by providing support, education, and standards. Black Diamond (Rock Guide) is a Diamond Partner of the AMGA and contributes significant dollars to every candidate in the Rock discipline exams as well as providing the full tuition scholarships.
www.amga.com
(303) 271-0984

Friends of Forest Service
Utah Avalanche Center
Black Diamond is the largest private contributor to any forecast center in the USA. BD employees have served on the Friends of the Utah Center’s board and our Marketing Manager serves as president of the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. Donating our offices to the UAC for meetings, Black Diamond has also lobbied other businesses, congressmen, senators and Forest Service officials on behalf of the UAC. Host to the UAC annual fall fundraiser, last year Black Diamond provided the financial support to bring together over 700 backcountry skiers and raise over $35,000.
www.utahavalanchecenter.com
(801) 364-1581

HERA’s Climb for Life Foundation
HERA (Health, Empowerment, Research and Advocacy) is a unique foundation that gives at least 90% of money raised directly to ovarian cancer research and to aide women battling the disease. Black Diamond is the primary sponsor for HERA’s Climb for Life, an annual event held on our campus. In 2002, sixty people participated in the event in SLC, while another 375 people raised money at their own crags and gyms across the country. http://ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/climb/
(970) 948-7360

Mugs Stump Award
The Mugs Stump Award provides low-impact, environmentally-conscious alpine climbers the opportunity to realize their dreams. With financial backing and an ongoing presence in our catalogs, Black Diamond encourages all climbers to apply for the award and to move toward a low-impact vision in the mountains.

Southern Utah
Wilderness Alliance (SUWA)
SUWA’s goal is to protect Utah’s remaining nine millon acres of wild desert lands. Last year alone, SUWA defeated two anti-wilderness proposals that would have allowed development and motorized recreation in vast stretches of our desert. In addition to being a corporate sponsor of SUWA, Black Diamond matches employee membership fees, organizes slide shows and other events on behalf of SUWA and has paid for employees to travel to Washington D.C. to lobby on SUWA’s behalf.
www.suwa.org
(801) 486-3161

SECOND TIER
Aiming to further our sport, these organizations are the backbone of America’s climbing communities. Black Diamond supports these organizations on a smaller scale with financial support and product contributions.

Alpine Club of Canada
www.alpineclubofcanada.ca
(403) 678-3200

American Mountaineering Center
www.mountaincenter.org
(303) 279-3080

Big City Mountaineers
www.bigcitymountaineers.org
(800) 644-2122

Climber’s Access Society of British Columbia
http://casbc.bivouac.com/

Northern Alaskan Environmental Center
www.northern.org
(907) 452-5021

Outdoor Industry Foundation
www.outdoorindustryfoundation.org
(303) 444-3353

Outward Bound West/The Moab Base Camp
www.outwardboundwest.org
(800) 477-2627

Rocky Mountain Field Institute
www.rmfi.org
(719) 471-7736

TABVAR
www.tabvar.com

Utah Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org
(435) 259-4629

Winter Wildlands Alliance
www.winterwildlands.org
(208) 336-4203

THIRD TIER
Through volunteer time, product donation or providing access to BD facilities, these organizations are an integral part of Black Diamond’s local and extended community. To ensure the future of our sports, our communities and our friends, Black Diamond feels it’s important to assist these organizations as needed.

Coalition for Utah’s Future
www.envisionutah.org
(801) 303-1450

Friends of Great Salt Lake
www.fogsl.org
(801) 583-5593

High Uinta Preservation Council
www.hupc.org
(435) 245-6747

Recycle Utah
www.recycleutah.org
(435) 649-9698

Save our Canyons
www.saveourcanyons.org
(801) 363-7283

Utahns for Better Transportation
www.utahnsforbettertransportation.org
(801) 582-1496

Utah Open Lands
www.utahopenlands.org
(801) 463-6156

Utah Rivers Council
www.wasatch.com/~urc/
(801) 486-4776

Utah Society for Environmental Education
www.usee.org
(801) 328-1549

SUCCESS STORIES

The Castleton
Preservation Initiative
The Castleton Preservation Initiative was created to stop the sale and development of land in Castle Valley, Utah, with the goal of preserving Castleton Tower and surrounding areas. Black Diamond was the first company in the outdoor industry to back this effort. Our catalog has featured a story encouraging others to get involved, while employees have acted as advisors and strategists to the group. BD has contributed cash to the organization and helped the group in fund raising efforts to protect Castle Valley.
www.castlerockcollaboration.org
(801) 463-6156

Red Mountain Project
Working with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the goal of the Red Mountain Project is to purchase and protect 11,000 acres of private mining claims and other public land holdings in the Telluride, Ouray and Silverton triangle. In fall 2002, Black Diamond featured a piece in our ice climbing catalog encouraging readers to get involved. BD contributes financially to the Red Mountain Project.
www.tpl.org
(303) 837-1414

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