Kismet’s Flatbread Company Benefit last Tuesday, May 18th was well attended with nearly 100 pizzas sold to help Kismet Kids continue climbing. Besides the great cause and delicious food, the big draw of the evening was The Blue Ribbon All-Star Band, a roots rock band from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, which volunteered to entertain diners for a good portion of the evening.  Kudos and thanks to talented band members Brendan Dowd, Chris Candito, and Steven Cooney. Nickie Sekera was the lucky raffle winner of a black and white sailing themed Craig Davis photograph at the event. Thank you to all the new and returning Kismet supporters who made it out to Flatbread and of course, we all appreciate Staci Blair and her staff at Flatbread Co. for making the evening possible.

Blue Ribbon All-Star Band members Brendan Dowd, Chris Candito, and Steven Cooney

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Steven James Cooney and the Blue Ribbon All-Star Band will play at Flatbread Company, North Conway for Kismet benefit night on Tuesday May 18. A portion of all flatbread sales will be donated to Kismet, eat in or take out.

“The Blue Ribbon All-Star Band is a roots rock band from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire,” said Steven Cooney. “The material the band covers is diverse.  We play music from Booker T., John Prine, Johnny Cash, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Taj Mahal and many others. Tuesday evening we will be playing an acoustic set with no drummer. The line-up is Brendan Dowd on upright bass, Chris Candito on acoustic guitar and vocals, and I will be on guitar and vocals.”

A Kismet information table will be set up in the foyer. All first time contributions of any amount are being DOUBLE matched through the Power of Three campaign.

We are so grateful to Flatbread Company for their continued support of our community organizations. They do benefit nights like this TWICE a week most weeks!

Janet with Kismet students in 2007

The board of directors voted unanimously to make long time Kismet team member Janet Bergman the organization’s executive director. As part of this leadership transition, founder Mike Jewell will serve alongside Janet as Kismet’s President and Program Director.

Janet has been working in the background of Kismet for many years already, helping implement administrative policies and procedures, develop a personnel structure and to conduct outreach and fund raising. She is also an avid climber who understands from personal experience the value of a climbing education.

“We feel this creative leadership structure will make the most of both Janet’s and Mike’s strongest skill sets and help Kismet to reach new heights in accomplishing its educational mission,” said Sarah Garlick, Board Chair.

Janet and Mike will join the board for a strategic planning retreat early this summer to paint a picture of Kismet’s long-term vision, and to identify strategies for accomplishing our immediate and long-range goals. Please stay tuned for the results of that session.

Photo by Jim Surette

Bayard Russell is a 33 y/o mountain guide who lives in Madison NH with his fiance Anne.  He has been guiding for seven years and runs his own guide service, Cathedral Mountain Guides. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, where he began climbing in 1996. Bayard is a AMGA certified rock instructor and Mountain Rescue service team leader and board member.

Q: When/how/why did you get involved with Kismet?

A: I got involved with Kismet in 2008 as a newly independent guide. I had worked with groups of kids guiding in the summer for years and Kismet offered an opportunity for me to continue doing so, but with the added satisfaction of reaching kids who would otherwise not have access to climbing.

Q: Is there a memorable story from a day out with the Kismet students that you wish to share?

A: I was walking out of Sundown Cliff’s Lost Horizon area on a day after a rain and kids were sliding around on the loose footing and wet leaves. It was a lot different than the paved sidewalks that a lot of the kids were used to.  There was one boy though wasn’t having a problem negotiating the terrain at all and I told him he was good at getting around. Hassan’s reply was, “It’s my Iraqi legs.”

Q: What do you like most about working with this organization?

A: What I like about Kismet is what I like about teaching climbing to teenagers in general.  It’s really satisfying to see them pick up the attitude and understanding of what climbing is and how it works, to watch them become climbers and to love it. That experience may help on some others levels back in their lives away from Kismet, it may not, but having experienced that satisfaction of proficiency, or just the experience of climbing is a great memory of a unique litttle world.

Q: Tell us a bit about your life when you are not working with Kismet?

A: I have focused a lot of personal climbing time in the last few years on developing new climbing routes and free time in general working on my fixer- upper where I live with my fiance Anne. In the past two years I have begun to guide independently and it’s been picking up. When I’m not guiding I build houses, something I really enjoy.

Q: Any parting thoughts?

A: Kismet is a great organization. If its therapeutic for the kids that pass through it that’s a wonderful thing, but simply providing an opportunity to experience something as vivid and beautiful as climbing and places it takes you is enough.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Janet Bergman, Executive Director, Kismet Rock Foundation, Janet@kismetrockfoundation.org, 603.986.9457

Black Diamond Equipment Sponsors Kismet’s 2010 Program Season

Climbing-Related Companies Sought for Additional Sponsorship Opportunities

North Conway, NH – May 12, 2010 – Black Diamond Equipment recently joined Kismet Rock Foundation as a 2010 program sponsor.

“Kismet’s educational mission aligns well with our company’s dedication to the future of climbing,” said Jonathan Thesenga, Content Manager at Black Diamond Equipment. “They are getting kids out there who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience climbing, and we are happy to help make that possible.”

Black Diamond Equipment will add Kismet to the list of dozens of other climbing- and skiing-related nonprofit organizations that the company supports in the form of product donations, consulting services and monetary contributions.

“We are so happy to have the support of Black Diamond this year,” said Sasha Eisele, Kismet Board member and chair of the development committee. “Kismet is unique in its 100% climbing-focused educational programs, and we hope that climbing-focused companies recognize the value and opportunity their support provides to our program.”

Kismet seeks additional sponsors for this summer’s program season. All first time sponsorship donations will be matched 200% through the Power of Three Campaign (more information at www.kismetrockfoundation.org). Please contact Janet Bergman, Executive Director (603.986.9457 or janet@kismetrockfoundation.org) to learn more.

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Kismet Rock Foundation enhances the physical, intellectual and emotional development of well-functioning but economically disadvantaged children by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive education in technical rock climbing. By developing students’ potential, Kismet prepares students to positively contribute to their communities and their culture throughout their lives. More information at www.kismetrockfoundation.org.

At Black Diamond Equipment it’s all about climbing and skiing. What began with a backyard anvil and a hammer has grown into a global company with offices on three continents that’s not just for rock climbers, but one that stands for the spirit of the sports we live, their values and goals, past, present and future. Since 1957, our innovative gear designs have set the standards in numerous areas. This is partly the result of dedication, desire and diligence on the part of an incredible team of people. It’s also the result of each of us being climbers and skiers ourselves. More information at www.blackdiamondequipment.com.

Related links:
Kismet Power of Three Campaign

Kismet Program Sponsor Listing

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kismet Rock Foundation Launches ‘Power of Three’ Campaign

Friends of Kismet To Match First Time Donations 200% Between Now and September

North Conway, NH – May 5, 2010 – For every dollar donated by a first time donor to Kismet Rock Foundation, an additional two dollars will be contributed by friends of the organization. The Great Circle Foundation and Nelson Charitable Foundation, both long time Kismet supporters, have teamed up to offer this special ‘Power of Three’ matching campaign. Each foundation has pledged to match all new donations 100% for up to $10,000, for a possible total of $30,000, between now and October 1, 2010.

“Charities must be creative with fundraising in this economy,” says Jeannine Weinberg, Executive Director of the Great Circle Foundation, “so the Great Circle Foundation is glad to team with the Nelson Charitable Foundation to provide additional incentive for people to make that final step to becoming a Kismet donor.”

Kismet Rock Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in North Conway, NH, enhances the development of economically disadvantaged children by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive education in technical rock climbing. By developing their potential, Kismet prepares students to positively contribute to their communities and their culture throughout their lives. Kismet accepts students from Bartlett, Gorham and Manchester, NH, Boston, MA and Portland, ME, with the summer program season kicking off on July 11.

“We are so grateful for the commitment of these two foundations in helping Kismet build a strong basis of individual donor support,” says Sarah Garlick, Chair of the Kismet Board of Directors. “We hope that this campaign helps illustrate the value of every single dollar contributed in helping Kismet serve deserving children.”

To participate in the ‘Power of 3’ campaign, first time donors can visit http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org or send a check to Kismet Rock Foundation, P.O. Box 1744, North Conway, NH 03860. Kismet Rock Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 and all donations are fully tax deductible.

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