Cotopaxi Announces Grant Partnership with ROMP Ecuador

March 15, 2021

Ongoing work to support Cotopaxi’s global poverty alleviation goal helps expand brand’s major grant program

Salt Lake City, UT. March 15, 2021 — Cotopaxi, Benefit Corporation and outdoor gear and apparel brand, is diversifying its major grant program to include more innovative, sustainable and change-making entities, today announcing a partnership with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP). ROMP is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the mobility of people with amputation.

Cotopaxi’s ongoing impact and cause-driven work is dedicated to global poverty alleviation and the brand recognizes that in the fight to eliminate poverty, the solutions are varied and must be heavily place-based. Globally, access to quality healthcare is one of the greatest drivers of poverty alleviation and it’s widely recognized that generational economic and educational growth and success is vastly more achievable when health and work ability is prioritized.  However, for people in many areas of the world, the loss or amputation of a limb means the difference between stability and living below the poverty line. To continue its fight against poverty in the Americas and advance equity worldwide, Cotopaxi has partnered with ROMP to raise funds and awareness around the importance of mobility.

According to the World Health Organization, 9 out of 10 people worldwide who need assistive devices cannot access them; this includes proper prosthetic care for people with amputation. In countries like Ecuador—the focus of the Cotopaxi-ROMP partnership—becoming an amputee often means losing independent mobility or the ability to work. ROMP operates in partnership with a network of local Ecuadorian community leaders, prosthetists, and clinics in the private, non-profit, and public sectors to provide Ecuadorians with high-quality prosthetic care.

ROMP believes that all human beings are made to be mobile, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status, and that physical mobility is a critical component of social mobility and progression. Ensuring Ecuadorian amputees can remain mobile, working, and focused on achieving their goals is a priority shared by both ROMP and Cotopaxi.

“Physical disabilities have devastating financial consequences for families.” said Annie Agle, Director of Impact and Brand at Cotopaxi. “As part of Cotopaxi’s brand commitment to Ecuador, we are thrilled to establish a long term partnership with the Range of Motion Project, which provides prosthetic care to individuals-in-need. Disability remains an under-funded area in the development sector, and Cotopaxi is committed to helping close this gap.”

“Mobility transforms lives. With this grant from Cotopaxi, ROMP will be able to expand its work in Ecuador, helping the most vulnerable and underrepresented persons with amputation get access to prosthetic care,” said David Krupa, Executive Director of the Range of Motion Project. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Cotopaxi Foundation as we work to break the vicious cycle of poverty created by immobility and lack of equitable access to healthcare.”

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Cotopaxi Press Contact: Jess Smith | Jess@OutsidePR.com| 415.565.9530

About Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear brand and Benefit Corporation with a social mission. With two storefronts, a strong ecommerce platform, and over 80 employees, we design and sell gear that helps contribute to the fight against global poverty. We work to raise awareness of and funds for various humanitarian causes through the Cotopaxi Foundation. For more information please visit https://www.cotopaxi.com/pages/about.

About ROMP

The Range of Motion Project is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the mobility of people with amputation. ROMP realizes its mission by providing high-quality prosthetic care, follow up services, community-based rehabilitation, and product innovation through its permanent operations.Since 2005, ROMP has delivered over 4,000 custom-made prosthetic devices in Guatemala, Ecuador, and the U.S., and conducted over 10,000 patient visits. In the next 5 years ROMP plans to raise $5 million dollars to deliver 5,000 prosthetic devices to those in need. To learn more or help advance their mission, please visit https://www.rompglobal.org/.