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(Golden, Colo.) - Big City Mountaineers (BCM), the nonprofit dedicated to instilling critical life skills in under-resourced youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions, is pleased to announce the formation of its Northeast Leadership Council with brands from the Northeast to bring BCM programs to their region in the next few years. 

Cassie Heppner from Timberland spearheaded a meeting in April to launch a local leadership council which also included Polartec, Ibex and Thule. The brands came together to create a strategic plan and goals for the next three years, which included engaging other outdoor industry brands, and building a sustainable local funding model. To launch programming in the Northeast, the council plans to partner with youth agencies, engage the community in their work, and deliver local resources to support BCM program delivery. 

"BCM is grateful for the work the newly formed Northeast Council is doing to ultimately bring BCM programming to under-resourced youth in their communities," says Jeff Weidman, BCM Interim Executive Director. "It's incredible to have this group of brands be inspired to come together and make a difference for local kids. Over the next few years, we hope to work closely with the council to build a BCM presence in the Northeast slowly and sustainably."

"Ibex is excited about playing an active role in getting the BCM Northeast Leadership Council off the ground," adds Ted Manning, Ibex CEO. "We know there are plenty of under-served kids in the Northeast who would benefit from BCM's wilderness mentoring expeditions, and it takes collaboration to give kids these life changing experiences. We look forward to working with other outdoor industry brands to get local kids outdoors and make our communities stronger."

The BCM Northeast Leadership Council will host "Pick A Pack" raffle events with participating brands at the 2014 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show beginning August 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah to benefit BCM. The raffle will culminate with a Happy Hour hosted by Timberland in its booth from 4-6pm on Thursday, August 7. Winners of the raffle will have their choice of a gear-filled backpack and one grand prize winner will walk away with a $1,000 shopping spree from Thule. 

About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) instills critical life skills in over 1,000 under-resourced young people each year by getting them outdoors with volunteer mentors for life-changing wilderness experiences. BCM's unique model of one-to-one mentoring is proven to develop integrity, responsibility, improve communication skills and decision making abilities in youth from risk-filled environments through a nationally recognized developmental analysis tool. Given the opportunity to develop these skills alongside caring volunteer mentors creates positive, lasting change in these youth who become more likely to stay in school and avoid drugs, gangs and violence. For more information visit bigcitymountaineers.org. 

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