Quiksilver Foundation Grant Supports Protect Our Winters

By Transworld Business
The Quiksilver Foundation has donated grant money towards global snow sports non-profit organization Protect Our Winters to support its new “Hot Planet/Cool Athletes” campaign to educate youth on the impact of climate change.  The sum of the grant was undisclosed in the official announcement.

Hot Planet/Cool Athletes is a partnership between POW and Alliance For Climate Education (ACE) and is customized version of the acclaimed ACE Assembly, a new multimedia presentation available to any pro snow sports athlete interested in speaking to schools on behalf of climate change awareness/education. Hot Planet/Cool Athletes highlights athlete achievements and personal stories about the impact of climate change on winter sports and local mountain communities.

Since the program launch in January, athletes such as Gretchen Bleiler, Nate Holland, Seth Wescott, Ralph Backstrom, Nick Visconti, Moss Halladay, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Iris Lazzareschi and Forrest Shearer have presented to over five thousand students.

“The Quiksilver Foundation is excited to be working with POW and helping to support many of their great programs such as their Hot Planet/Cool Athletes initiative.  We’ve been actively pursuing a dedicated organization concerned with the issues facing our winters and we found a perfect fit with POW.  Having them work with our athletes to discuss climate change issues to students all over California is the best way to start”, said Ryan Ashton, Director of the Quiksilver Foundation.

“We couldn’t be more excited about partnering with the Quiksilver Foundation. Our missions are aligned very closely and we’re looking forward to giving their athletes a platform to influence students to become climate leaders.  The athlete voice is a powerful one, one that has the ability to create a movement”, said Chris Steinkamp, POW’s Executive Director.