Happy 100th Birthday ATC

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy turns 100 years old today! If you think about all that has changed in the last 100 years, it’s remarkable that this great idea of a footpath from Georgia to Maine continues to elicit support and passion among a wide variety of people. Although approximately 3 million people visit the Trail each year, so many more could discover its beauty and healing power. As our society spends more and more time inside, in front of screens, I think the mission of this organization is more important than ever. By dedicating my thru-hike to raising awareness of the Trail and raising funds to keep it alive, I’m also hoping to encourage more people to get outside, breathe fresh air, and realize how strong their bodies can be. My hike is fully funded, so your donation goes directly to the ATC.

Coming Full Circle

Many years ago, when I started my career and before I started climbing corporate ladders, my first grown-up job was working for a small, Virginia-based company that supplied fundraising software to non-profit organizations all over the U.S. and Canada. It was the best job I could have hoped for, mostly because of the groups I met through my work. My job was to help them use software to be more efficient and further their missions. I was so profoundly impressed by the passion of these folks and glad that my skills were complementary to theirs. They knew their domain and I knew how to help them succeed. Here I am as a retiree, having watched the jaw-dropping evolution of technology and the transformation it has driven in our world. What has stayed the same, though, at organizations like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is the kind, smart, passionate people who make the mission happen. I’m humbled by these heroes and others like them. I’m excited to hike in support of the ATC in a different way than I supported other non-profits all those years ago. 

Why should I donate?

• It’s a really strange year, and the Trail needs friends more than ever. 
• It’ll help sustain a space where all of us can get outside and exercise.
• It’s tax deductible.
• This month, generous donors are matching gifts!
• It’ll make you feel good to do good.
• It will help me reach my goal to raise $25k during my thru-hike in 2025.

Quoted From the ATC

“Donor support is instrumental in our ability to respond to natural disasters and emergencies that threaten the A.T. and our Trail communities, as well as the critical work the ATC does every day, including:

• Managing and facilitating the maintenance of the 2,000+ miles of  footpath and infrastructure to ensure the usability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of the Trail.
• Immediate response in the case of natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding, including timely trail alerts, tracking the ecological changes caused by extreme weather, and taking steps to mitigate future damage.
• Protecting the surrounding landscape through long-term, innovative conservation and climate sustainability projects that seek to protect the scenic beauty and unique biodiversity of the Trail.
• Expanding the A.T. community through education and outreach programs and accessibility projects that help make the Trail experience welcoming for people from all walks of life.

Keep the Trail alive and thriving for another 100 years—and beyond with your support!”

CLICK to Donate – 100% to the ATC