Last year, the project put 12 kids into foster homes! And this year he hopes to continue the journey. Below is a recent interview with Dave, detailing his passions and inviting us to be a part of his journey! Check out his story and some awesome photos of his experience.
Let’s learn a little about you, your family, and your passions. What do you do, like to do, and why are you passionate for adoption?
My family is my passion, two kids, Drew is 2.5 and Olivia is almost 4. Wife, Chrisa of well, a couple decades. How can that be? The kids happen to be from China and Korea and we are so blessed to be their mom and dad. I also love the exploring the mountains and wilderness. My passion about adoptions came from traveling throughout Asia and seeing so many kids who need homes. Work: I am a media guy, and work as a cadet advisor as the manager of the Air Force Academy college radio station KAFA.
Last year I started this project after the death of our friend and social worker Laurel Constantinides and her three daughters. I felt I needed to step up and do something for orphans in her honor. The goal was to raise funds to get as many orphans in foster care as possible. In the end we were able to get 12 kids into new loving foster homes.
What were last season’s highlights? Any low points?
This year I had hoped to make this less about me climbing mountains and more about getting others involved. I was working toward this being a guided trip of several summits over a week. The idea was that each climber would raise 1,000 and if they raised that amount the week of guided climbing, transportation and food would be paid for. This turned out to be a huge project and between challenges with forest service permits, and other hurdles I alone just wasn’t able to get it all together.
So I am dedicating 12 summit attempts over the next few weeks to these children and hope that people will support my efforts with a donation. It’s actually more about helping the kids than sponsoring my mountain climbing.
Can people still be a part and if so, how?People can sign up and climb a peak with me or create their own personal challenge. We ask for a $25 donation to join, then each climber will have their own fundraising site where they can get friends and family to sponsor their climb for the kids. Details on dates and the registration links are at www.14ers4Kids.com
You can continue to follow the 14ers4Kids story at the social media links below:
Facebook.com/14ers4kids Twitter: @14ers4kids Web www.14ers4Kids.com