Credit Matthew McDermott
Outdoor Retailer ended in late January on a high note with both industry attendance and optimism up from winter 2009. In the midst of writing orders and thinking about upcoming selling seasons, though, the industry as initiated dozens of efforts to provide relief for Haiti after its devastating earthquake.
Manufacturers across the Winter Market show floor offered product to an industry Haitian relief effort coordinated by Terramar, Sierra Trading Post & Eric Larsen. The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) also partnered with Americares to get first aid kits, water purification systems, headlamps, tarps and hydration containers willing donated from manufacturers in the outdoor industry to Haitians in desperate need of essential supplies. (See below for more information on getting your product to Haiti via Sierra Trading Post and Americares).
In an industry that highly values authenticity and social responsibility, it’s no surprise that the outdoor industry mobilized so quickly to aid Haiti. It employs individuals with just as much strength and heart as the products it manufactures- prepared to be put to work at a moments notice. These qualities and others make SOAR super proud to be part of the outdoor industry.
In fact, we see these qualities in the outdoor industry year round. We associate with outdoor industry leaders that support advocacy groups and let their passion for their sport drive their compassion. SOAR has had some fun and rewarding opportunities to work on a pro-bono basis with non-profits like Bikes for Kids Utah and Trips for Kids. We get to see how much work goes into each event and initiative. Every donation, vote of confidence, re-tweet and sponsorship makes a difference.
Let’s all continue to heed OIA’s call for the industry to “dig deep” during this and every time of crisis and need.
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Click here to read about the partnerships forming in the outdoor industry to help Haiti.
To donate this urgently needed product/equipment contact Randy Weiss at Americares at (203) 658-9527 or rweiss@americares.org. All donations will be delivered by air and sea directly to the region by Americares.
Outdoor Retailer exhibitors are invited to donate show products to Haiti via Red Cross if it can arrive at Sierra Trading Post by FEBRUARY 8, 2010. All packages should be sent to Sierra Trading Post Robin Jahnke/Haiti 5121 Campstool Road Cheyenne, Wyoming 8200.
Mimi McDonald holding her daughter, Mia, post-op
Mia McDonald spent her first few months in the world with congenital heart defect. Fortunately, on Nov. 10, four months after her birth, Mia underwent a successful heart transplant. Mimi and John McDonald are overjoyed about their daughter’s recovery and at the same time overwhelmed with steep medical expenses associated with it. Friends of the McDonald family have collaborated to create the Mia McDonald Fund to help the family deal with its financial burdens.
Though the McDonalds are based in Seattle, their friends in Provo, Utah have planned the “Help Baby Mia Bike-a-thon” to give baby Mia supporters a per-mile opportunity to donate to Mia’s cause. The riders will travel between 40 and 60 miles in two hours, starting in Provo and ending at the Alpine Loop by the Sundance Resort. For more information about the ride, visit the Facebook group: “The ‘Help Baby Mia’ Bike-a-thon” or email Dane at gdanesmith@gmail.com or Abbie at abbierufener@gmail.com. You can read more about Mia’s story at http://helpbabymia.blogspot.com/.
For more bike-related advocacy opportunities, visit the Bikes for Kids Utah website to learn about a non-profit organization with a mission to provide free bikes to underprivileged children in Salt Lake County.
Debbie Reid, founder and director of Bikes for Kids Utah, was a guest Thursday afternoon (5-29-08) on 1280 the Zone (1280 AM), the most popular sports talk radio station in Utah.
Thanks to the team at 1280 for letting Debbie come on the “Jake and Jim Show” to talk about Bikes for Kids Utah and what a difference a brand new bike can make in the life of any kid.
We at SOAR Communications are proud to support such a fantastic non-profit, a 501(c)3 status corporation. In case you didn’t know, Bikes for Kids Utah has donated 1,000 brand new bikes each year (since 2006) to underprivileged children in Utah, along with helmets, bike locks and assorted other items.
After holding the bike giveaways in September in 2006 and 2007, this year’s giveaway will be held this Saturday morning (5-31-08) at Intermountain Healthcare’s fantastic new Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. And once again, yours truly — Poppa P — got snagged to do the emcee duties. 
Anyway . . . here are a couple of the photos from Debbie’s interview on 1280 the Zone on Thursday.
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Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah, being interviewed Thursday, 5-29-08, on 1280 the Zone (Utah’s No. 1 sports talk radio station in Utah).
Jim Fuchuck, one of the hosts of the “Jake and Jim Show” on 1280 the Zone (the best sports talk radio station in Utah), interviews Debbie Reid, executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah on Thurs., 5-29-08.
