The Great Circle Foundation awards grant to Kismet Rock Foundation
North Conway, NH – JANUARY 2, 2012 – The Great Circle Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Kismet Rock Foundation to offset the costs of its summer program in 2012. Kismet Rock Foundation enhances the physical, intellectual and emotional development of children who lack access to opportunities such as the one Kismet offers by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive and multi-dimensional education in technical climbing. Kismet Rock Foundation was selected because of its focus on providing a direct educational service to youth.
“The generosity of the Great Circle Foundation will continue to allow Kismet students to have the opportunity to benefit from the technical and life skills that a climbing education can offer. We are delighted that the Great Circle Foundation has chosen to make Kismet Rock Foundation a philanthropic priority. Our warmest thanks to Great Circle for enabling children from low income families to be a part of the Kismet family,” says Brian Post, Kismet Rock Foundation Board Chairperson.
Kismet Rock Foundation emerged out of a desire of the director, Mike Jewell, to offer the same climbing instruction to economically disadvantaged children as he had given to families throughout his guiding career. In 1999, Mike asked a childhood friend, Stanley West, to find four children in southern New Jersey and bring them to New Hampshire for one week of technical climbing instruction. This initial project was accomplished with little money and with much effort on the part of some very kind and generous people. The project received media attention and Mike started Kismet the next year. Kismet was born in 2000, with the support of many friends and organizations.
Kismet’s summer season will launch in July 2012. To learn more about Kismet, please visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org.