THE NORTH FACE EXPLORE FUND AWARDS GRANT TO TRIPS FOR KIDS

Trips for Kids is one of the first initiatives supported by
a national effort to increase outdoor participation

San Rafael, CA – October 21, 2010– The North Face has awarded a $2,500 grant to Trips for Kids Marin to help children and families explore the outdoors. Trips for Kids Marin (TFK Marin) is a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit that provides mountain bike outings, job-training, and environmental education for disadvantaged youth. Our goal is to help youth gain a sense of personal responsibility, achievement, and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun.

Trips for Kids Marin was selected from hundreds of applications because of our work helping at-risk youth discover the joys of mountain biking along with their own potential to succeed. The grant is part of the inaugural commitment of $250,000 from The North Face Explore Fund, enabling more than 100 programs that will affect an estimated 85,000 young people.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous award from The North Face Explore Fund,” said Trips for Kids founder and director Marilyn Price. “We are gratified to be part of a national movement to inspire youth to explore the outdoors.”
TFK Marin was established in 1988 to give at-risk urban kids a chance to experience nature in local parks as they gain bicycling skills and learn first-hand about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. Since its founding, the program has brought over 19,000 Bay Area youth on over 2,000 bike rides. All of the youth we serve are low-income, inner-city, or otherwise at risk boys and girls. Our innovative programs use the simple bicycle to provide youth with healthy alternatives to life-damaging activities. Riding up a hill or finishing a challenging ride teaches life-enhancing attitudes and values, such as confidence, integrity, and perseverance. Ultimately, youth gain the tools to make sound, healthy lifestyle decisions and an awareness of what they can do in their everyday lives to improve our environment.

In addition, Trips for Kids has been able to advance its mission exponentially with the support of over 350 partner organizations, including schools, agencies, and other youth development program partners.
“Our goal is to enable more people to get outside and explore their world in ways that are meaningful to them,” said Steve Rendle, President of The North Face. “We’re very proud to launch the Explore Fund and support Trips for Kids Marin and the other impressive organizations that are making outdoor exploration possible, and a priority, in communities across the country.”

To learn more about Trips for Kids and its Mountain Bike Rides Program, visit www.tripsforkids.org/marin. To learn more about all of the Explore Fund grantees and to keep up on their progress visit www.planetexplore.com.

About Trips for Kids
Trips for Kids (TFK) is a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit that provides mountain bike outings, job-training, and environmental education for disadvantaged youth. Our goal is to help youth gain a sense of personal responsibility, achievement, and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun. The Re-Cyclery Bike Thrift Shop accepts donated bikes and parts for resale in support of Trips for Kids’ programs, and provides job-training for youth.

About The North Face Explore Fund
The North Face® Explore FundTM is a grant program committed to supporting nonprofit, community organizations that break down the barriers preventing children and families from experiencing the outdoors. The Explore Fund, administered by The Outdoor Foundation, finds, engages and provides funding for new partners that help further the mission of inspiring the next generation of explorers and conservationists by helping them discover nature\\\'s playground.

About PlanetExplore
PlanetExplore is an online community founded by The North Face, powered by partner organizations that share a passion for the outdoors, and designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to enjoy the benefits gained through a connection to nature.