EORA Announces Grants Awards to Youth Programs

January 5, 2017

EORA Announces Grants Awards to Youth Programs

Asheville, NC — With the goal of helping youth through outdoor pursuits, the Eastern Outdoor Reps Association (EORA) has awarded grants totaling $4,500 to six youth-based nonprofit organizations.

EORA’s Outdoor Opportunity Grant Program aims to support local communities throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Final grant recipients were chosen based on a range of qualifications, including number of youth served, lasting impact, and overall organization strength. This year, a record number of organizations applied for funding.

“We’re so pleased to have so many qualified candidates this year,” shared Debbie Motz, Executive Director of EORA. “Each organization is doing such important work to support youth in a variety of outdoor pursuits.”

EORA’s grant recipients for 2017 include:

Camp JORI, Wakefield, RI

Established in 1937, this co-ed overnight camp serves a diverse population of over 400 children each summer. Grant funding will help improve and expand their Low Ropes Challenge Course. 

Catalyst Sports, Marietta, GA

Providing adaptive athletics programs for the disabled community, Catalyst Sports focuses on climbing, handcycling and paddling. With EORA funding, it will be able to purchase new adaptive kayaks for its Youth Outdoors! Paddling Program.

Camp Susque, Trout Run, PA

Camp Susque’s mission is biblical evangelism and growth in Christian character for youth, young adults, and families. Grant funding will help them purchase new backpacks for their guided backpacking, canoeing and rafting trips for young adults. 

Glen Gardner Youth Association, Glen Gardner, NJ

Offering quality, community-based programming to get kids outdoors and away from their screens, the Glen Gardner Youth Association will use EORA’s support toward their kayaking and rock climbing/hiking field trips.

Norwalk Land Trust, Norwalk, CT

The Norwalk Land Trust’s Natural Science Program serves 800 fourth graders who live in urban areas, and gets them exposed to, and excited about, natural science and the outdoors. Grant funding will support the program’s in-class presentations and field trips to a local preserve. 

Urban Peaks, Everett, MA

Working in collaboration with other organizations, Urban Peaks promotes the positive and life-altering benefits of rock climbing and adventure-based activities to disadvantaged, underrepresented youth. This grant will support program requests from nonprofits working with underprivileged students.

Background information:

Eastern Outdoor Reps Association (EORA) is a not-for-profit association that produces regional tradeshows that bring together over 550 sales reps and 2,600 retailers each year in the Eastern US. Initially focused on traditional specialty outdoor, EORA has since expanded to encompass a wide array of retail categories, including lifestyle, specialty run, bike, resort, paddle sports, and more. EORA was founded in 1979 and has grown steadily in membership over the years.