Columbia/Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Announce 2016 Belay Program Grant Recipients

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20 Award Winners Receive Support for Local Conservation and Outdoor Education Projects

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ:COLM) and the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (Grassroots) are proud to support local conservation and outdoor education projects across the country through the Columbia/Grassroots Belay Program. Established in 2012, this program provides funding and product support to projects selected by Grassroots members. In 2016, 20 new projects have been selected to receive a total of $100,000 of support from Columbia.

“Since it began in 2012, the Belay Program has demonstrated its ability to accomplish vital conservation work while engaging local communities,” said Scott Welch, Global Corporate Relations Manager at Columbia Sportswear Company. “We’re proud of our long-term partnership with Grassroots and excited for the opportunity to support 2016 grant recipients in their mission to conserve the natural places we love and get kids outside.”

Grassroots and Columbia share a mission of connecting people with the outdoors while fostering environmental stewardship on local, national and global levels. The Columbia/Grassroots Belay Program demonstrates a joint commitment to the outdoors while providing basic necessities to secure and safeguard local projects improving our environment. Since 2012, Columbia has provided $430,000 in support of Belay Program projects across the nation.

“This program is a prime example of how important work can be accomplished through the collaboration of great brands like Columbia and specialty outdoor stores,” said Wes Allen, President of Grassroots. “Our ongoing partnership with Columbia provides much needed resources and opportunities for Grassroots retailers to engage with and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.”

The following 20 organizations were proposed and selected by Grassroots members for support in the 2016 program year. The grant recipients are local non-profit partners of Grassroots members located across the country and will receive $5,000 in the form of cash, product, or both from Columbia. If you have an interest in their specific projects, please feel free to reach out to the recipients directly via the links below.

2016 Awards (Project name, grant recipient/Grassroots partner):

About Columbia

Columbia, the flagship brand of Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear Company, has been creating innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938. Columbia has become a leading global brand by channeling the company’s passion for the outdoors, and an innovative spirit into technologies and performance products that keep people warm, dry, cool and protected year-round. To learn more, please visit the company’s website at www.columbia.com.

About Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

The Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a group of independent outdoor retailers organized to serve the needs of its member operating over 100 independent specialty outdoor stores throughout North America. Grassroots is dedicated to creating benefits to its members through sharing information, fostering communication, promoting best business practices and protecting our natural environment, locally and globally. To learn more visit www.grassrootsoutdoors.com.

Columbia
Andy Nordhoff, 503-985-1739
PR Manager
anordhoff@columbia.com
or
Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
Wes Allen, 307-213-5187
President
wes@grassrootsoutdoors.com

Source: Columbia Sportswear Company

Released January 19, 2016