Pennies For Your Hearts

This week on Facebook, I announced a major project that I have been planning for months for 2017. It's called Pennies For Your Hearts. This project is my way to give back to the outdoor community that has given me so much in my life. But in this post, I want to touch on WHY I am doing this...

I know that everyone hates politics, especially on the heels of this electoral season. But one of the reasons for my project is a bigger picture/long game type of endeavor. Unfortunately, somehow in America and likely other parts of the World, caring about the environment, nature and the outdoors has become a partisan issue. Now, I realize that this is a gross generality. There are certainly people on the right side of the spectrum that love the environment just as there are those that lean left that couldn't care less. I get that. But generally, as we saw in this political season, and further given Donald Trump's cabinet choices and public statements I know this to be generally true.

So... Instead of lamenting these ideas, I decided to do something about it.

See... I believe that love of the outdoors is a non-partisan issue that transcends race, color, creed, or sexual orientation. I want to live in an America that cares about the wild, that respects that mining is vital to our economy yet minimizes its environmental impact and searches for new and less invasive technologies. An America that recycles, an America that has people in it like my friend KB Bess that is researching ways to reduce our dependence on plastic (read: oil).

My project works like this: For every mile that ALL of my Facebook friends hike, walk, or run in 2017, I am going to donate a penny to an organization called Gear Forward. Gear Forward takes donated used gear (and donations to purchase new gear) and then donates them to youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other non-profit organizations that serve youth to outfit them to enjoy the outdoors. My friends at Teton Sports are going to provide a very nice 1st and 2nd place prize for the cumulative miles leaders in 2017.

The reason that I am choosing to give to this organization is multi-faceted. One, they are good people trying to make a difference and are a small non-profit without much outside help. Secondly, and probably most importantly is my 'long game' reasoning. I have a theory (more like common sense) that we have to get people IN to the environments that some of us cherish at an early age so that they can begin to SEE what we SEE.

I have said it before, but if people get it, they'll tell others about it. Then, they'll want to clean it (pick up trash, etc.). Then they'll want to advocate for it. Then they'll eventually hold politicians accountable that would seek to destroy the balance between economic goals and protection of the Earth. Because we only have one Earth. None of us living here today will ever live on another planet. Nor our children's children most likely. So it goes without saying that while I am here on Earth, I have to try to make a difference, and this is how.

If you are an outdoor company that would like to participate either by donating to Gear Forward, or would like to help me provide small prizes to fund additional places, I would be eternally grateful to you. Together, we can do so much. If you'd like to help, you can email me at jasoncleghorn@gmail.com. No matter how big or how small, your contribution will be making a difference in the lives of our future adventurers, explorers, and conservationists.

Thank you.