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Outside Magazine February 2005

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Destinations: Adventure Altruism
Giving Large
Real adventure means making a difference. Check out these ways to make philanthropy a part of your trip—and dare to get inspired.


	Asia Transpacific Journeys (courtesy, Roger LeMoyne)

It might be a reaction to the unsettling state of world politics, but we at Outside have noticed a renaissance of creativity and innovation in our world as travel outfitters, gear companies, and adventure athletes roll up their sleeves, open their wallets, and donate their time to help change our planet for the better. L.L. Bean, for instance, gives money (and its employees volunteer) to maintain the Appalachian Trail, while kayaker Brad Ludden runs a paddling camp for teens with cancer. Sophisticated explorers and total-commitment athletes have always known a secret: that engaging with the world on the deepest level, whether it's a matter of risk or empathy, makes for the greatest adventure. Once we began investigating this story, the phenomenon became even more exciting and impressive. What follows is a brief sampling of what's going on out there. Take a look and become part of it.

Conrad Anker
Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation
406-282-7803 | www.alexlowe.org
As a board member of the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation, alpinist Conrad Anker works with his wife (and Lowe's widow), Jennifer, climber Jon Krakauer, and others to honor the memory of Alex Lowe, who died in a 1999 avalanche while climbing in Tibet. The foundation raises money to support a climbing institute in Mongolia and a Sherpa training camp in Nepal's Khumbu region that's designed to improve locals' mountaineering skills.

Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong Foundation
512-236-8820 | www.laf.org
Cancer survivor Lance Armstrong established the foundation that bears his name in 1997 as a resource for other patients and survivors. In 2004, LAF awarded more than $1 million to 40 nonprofit organizations that support cancer survivorship and education, and launched the phenomenally successful Live Strong yellow-bracelet campaign: More than 25 million of the fundraising rubber wristbands were sold, at one dollar a pop, between May and November of last year.

Asia Transpacific Journeys
800-642-2742 | www.asiatranspacific.com
Because this outfitter's Asia Transpacific Foundation runs entirely on staff volunteer hours, almost every cent of the roughly $275,000 donated since 1998 has gone to its beneficiaries. ATJ contributes a percentage of its annual profits to the foundation, which funds projects like the Im Jai House for AIDS orphans, in Hang Dong, Thailand.

Burton Snowboards
802-651-0326 | www.burton.com
Since 1995, more than 8,300 at-risk kids in ten cities, from New York to Seattle, have hit the slopes thanks to the Burton Chill program. Funded by Burton, with contributions from corporate sponsors and individual donors, Chill outfits teens from group homes and inner-city environments and takes them boarding once a week for six weeks.

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