American YouthWorks CEO Parc Smith, and REI Store Managers Joan Chapman, John Simmons, and Todd Callaway.
American YouthWorks recently received a $10,000 grant from REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), a national outdoor retail co-op committed to connecting people with nature, to support American YouthWorks’ Environmental Corps and Service Learning Academy.
A reception honoring American YouthWorks and the other five grant recipients took place on Sunday, August 1, 2010 at the LCRA Redbud Center at 3601 Lake Austin Blvd. Fellow grant recipients including Colorado River Foundation, Texas Bicycle Coalition, Hill Country Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, and Austin Ridge Riders each presented their plans for the various ways they will use the grant money from REI to make outdoor activities welcoming and accessible to all people and promote stewardship of the outdoors.
Click here to see more photos from the REI Grant Reception.
AYW E-Corps members and staff were on hand to accept the award.
American YouthWorks’ funds from REI will be used to provide program participants with proper safety equipment and educational materials, such as work boots and GPS systems, to help teach students critical skills for future jobs in the emerging green economy while simultaneously helping them to serve their communities and work toward an education.
“With great community partners like REI providing support to American YouthWorks, together we are able to train urban youth for careers in conservation and expose them to the great outdoors while also improving our parks’ infrastructure and habitat and in Austin, Travis County and across the State of Texas,” said Parc Smith, CEO of American YouthWorks.
American YouthWorks’ Service Learning Academy provides an opportunity for disadvantaged youth in the Austin area to combine their high school education with real life experience through service and green job training in environmental conservation. The Environmental Corps program focuses on four objectives including trail building, habitat restoration, public land improvement, and community service.
REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through education, volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions. The grant is the result of a nomination made by the Austin REI store.
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