A Nonprofit Gym Makes Climbing Accessible for Cortez Youth

Rural youth need safe places where they can hang out and be active. For some, that may be a basketball gym or soccer field. In Colorado, it could just as easily be a climbing gym. But in Cortez, kids interested in climbing have few low-cost options to learn and practice the sport. One local group came up with a remedy—create a nonprofit climbing gym. LOR’s support helped Four Corners Community Climbing Gym hire a lawyer and accountant and covered application fees so the group could obtain its 501(c)3 nonprofit status. With the designation, the group will be able to kick-start its plans for an 8,000 square foot climbing gym and community center that will make the sport more accessible and serve Cortez youth for years to come.

This project was fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation.