“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.

Download as a docx or pdf file.

Chris and Jeannie Bishop, and their son Christopher, started the Ryan E. Bishop Outdoor Leadership Fund to honor the memory of their son and brother, Ryan E. Bishop. Twenty-one-year-old Ryan died tragically during a canoeing trip in southern Utah in late April while saving a friend’s life. During the summer and fall of 2011, his family created two funds to ensure that Ryan’s passion for life and his love of the great outdoors will live on: The Ryan E. Bishop Outdoor Leadership Fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Westminster College Scholarship Fund in Salt Lake City. The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation offered a generous 10 percent matching grant to the contributions made in memory of Ryan during the summer.

“Kismet Rock Foundation is honored to be the first Ryan E. Bishop Outdoor Leadership Fund scholarship recipient,” says Brian Post, Kismet Board Chairperson. “This scholarship will be instrumental in allowing several Kismet students to experience the outdoors through the unique perspective that climbing offers. We send our sincerest gratitude to the Ryan E. Bishop Outdoor Leadership Fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for helping Kismet to transform the lives of underserved youth through an education in technical climbing.”

The organization serves students who might not otherwise have an opportunity such as the one Kismet offers. By developing their potential, Kismet prepares students to contribute to their communities and their culture throughout their lives.

Kismet currently serves seven public schools in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, offering students one week of climbing instruction per summer for four summers. The summer season will begin in July 2012.

For more information about Kismet Rock Foundation, please visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org. For more information about Ryan Bishop and efforts to honor his memory, please visit the Explore for Bishop website, set to launch in 2012 at www.ExploreForBishop.com.

Download as a docx or pdf file.

CONTACT: ALYSSA WALKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
603.730.2715

Kismet Rock Foundation thanks supporters for the 3rd Annual Cliff Run

North Conway, NH – September 23, 2011 – Over 40 runners gathered at Echo Lake State Park on Sunday morning, September 18, for the third annual Cliff Run to benefit Kismet Rock Foundation. Race director Gabe Flanders designed the challenging course, where runners gained over 1,100 feet of elevation in just five miles.

Leslie Beckwith of North Conway was 1st female overall with a time of 51:42, breaking the previous record by nearly two minutes. Dawn Heinrich of Wolfeboro was 2nd woman overall and 1st in her age group. Colleen Ryan of Danvers, MA was 3rd female overall.

Tim Livingston of Conway was 1st male overall with a time of 44:05, breaking the previous record, held by Carl Swenson, by over four minutes. Carl came in second, and first in his age group, still faster than his own old record. Brent Perdrizet of Lyme was 3rd male overall.

Winners received unique, hand-made trophies in addition to prizes from La Sportiva representative Doug Madara. “It’s great to have such a wonderful race sponsor like La Sportiva,” Flanders said.

Kismet Rock Foundation is a non-profit that serves economically underprivileged students who might otherwise ‘fall through the cracks’ of their highly stressed public school systems. By developing their potential, Kismet prepares students to contribute to their communities and their culture throughout their lives.

Kismet serves seven public schools in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts; offering students one week per summer of programs for up to four years. To make a donation, volunteer or learn more about Kismet Rock Foundation and its climbing programs for New England youth please visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org, email info@kismetrockfoundation.org or call 603-730-2715. Kismet Rock Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible.

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Contact:
Alyssa Walker
Executive Director
Kismet Rock Foundation
PO Box 1744
North Conway, NH 03860
603.730.2715

2011 Cliff Run Results

Kismet Cliff Run – 2011 Results Press Release (PDF)

Check out some photos of the 2011 Kismet Cliff Run on Kismet’s Facebook Page.

North Conway, NH – July 6, 2011 – Beginning July 17, 54 students from Boston, Massachusetts, Portland, Maine, and Bartlett, Gorham, and Manchester, New Hampshire will learn to climb in the White Mountains through Kismet Rock Foundation’s summer program.

“Rock climbing is a very transformative activity,” explains Brian Post, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. “Our students develop athleticism, analytic skill, good judgment, focus, team awareness, relationship skills, patience, compassion, honesty, humility, and an immense respect for themselves and the outdoors. We have students from diverse backgrounds and geographic areas coming together to share this unique experience.”

The organization serves economically underprivileged students who might otherwise ‘fall through the cracks’ of their highly stressed public school systems. By developing their potential, Kismet prepares students to contribute to their communities and their culture throughout their lives.

Kismet serves seven public schools in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massahusetts. offering students one week per summer of programs for up to four years. The first group of students arrive in North Conway on July 17th, with programs running through August 28th.

Valuable contributions from the Evenor Armington Trust, the Great Circle Foundation, The Gibson Woodbury Foundation, the Kendall C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation, the Nelson Charitable Foundation, the Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Foundation, the Stare Fund, and a community of individual and business donors make the program season possible. Kismet also thanks the following businesses for 2011 program support: Black Diamond Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, Nike, Inc., SOLO and Sterling Rope Co., Inc.

After the summer programs wrap up, Kismet Rock Foundation’s fall calendar includes the Annual Kismet Cliff Run on September 18th and Caliente! A Night of Salsa Dancing to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation on November 5.

For more information about these events, to make a donation, volunteer or learn more about Kismet Rock Foundation and its climbing programs for New England youth please visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org, email Kismet, or call 603-730-2715. Kismet Rock Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible.

Contact:
Alyssa Walker
Executive Director
Kismet Rock Foundation
PO Box 1744
North Conway, NH 03860
603.730.2715
Email Alyssa

PRESS RELEASE PROGRAM 2011 (doc file)

PRESS RELEASE PROGRAM 2011 (pdf file)

Kismet Rock Foundation supports a national effort to increase outdoor participation among Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire youth.

North Conway, NH – JUNE 20, 2011 – The North Face has awarded a $2,400 grant to Kismet Rock Foundation to help children and families explore the outdoors. 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 and multi-dimensional education in technical rock climbing. Kismet Rock Foundation was selected from hundreds of applications because of its focus on providing technical rock climbing instructions to economically under-served youth. In the first of two grant cycles in 2011, The North Face awarded $125,000 Explore Fund grants to 52 projects helping more than 30,000 kids to connect to nature.

“We are thrilled that the North Face Explore Fund chose Kismet Rock Foundation as a philanthropic priority. Like North Face’s Explore Fund, Kismet Rock Foundation believes in the physical, emotional and social benefits of connecting young people with the outside world and an active lifestyle. Kismet specifically uses rock climbing as a catalyst for these benefits. Our sincere thanks to the fund for enabling children from low income families in New England to be a part of the Kismet family,” says Sasha Eisele, Kismet’s Board Vice Chair.

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 many children with greater resources throughout his guiding career. After nearly a decade of consideration, 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. During the summer of 1999, this initial project was accomplished with little money and with much effort on the part of some very kind and generous people. Luckily, the project received media attention, including a piece on the television show “New Hampshire Crossroads.” As a result, Mike was approached by members of the North Conway community with the idea of starting a nonprofit organization. Thus, Kismet was born in the year 2000 with a small board of six, and the support of many friends and organizations.

“First-hand experience is essential to ignite a passion for the outdoors, and that shouldn’t be limited by gender, race or income level,” said Ann Krcik, director of outdoor participation at The North Face. “At The North Face, we’re dedicated to providing everyone with the access to our natural playgrounds and the resources they need to get outside.”

Kismet’s summer season will launch on July 17, 2011. To learn more about Kismet, visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org. To learn more about all of the Explore Fund grantees and to keep up on their progress visit www.planetexplore.com.

About The North Face Explore Fund
The North Face® Explore FundTM is a grant program committed to supporting non-profit, community organizations that break down the barriers preventing children and families from experiencing the outdoors. The Explore Fund, administered by The Outdoor Foundation, finds, engages and provides funding for new partners that help further the mission of inspiring the next generation of explorers and conservationists by helping them discover nature’s playground.

About PlanetExplore
PlanetExplore is an online community founded by The North Face, powered by partner organizations that share a passion for the outdoors, and designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to enjoy the benefits gained through a connection to nature.

For more information, please visit our websites:
The Explore Fund www.explorefund.com
PlanetExplore www.planetexplore.com

Contact: Alyssa Walker – Executive Director
603-730-2715

North Face Press Release (docx file)
North Face Press Release (pdf file)

Meet Alyssa at Flatbread Company Benefit Night on May 19

Alyssa Walker, Kismet's Executive Director

May 17, 2011 – North Conway, New Hampshire – Kismet Rock Foundation is thrilled to welcome Alyssa Walker as executive director. A public educator for the past 10 years, Alyssa is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature and an MAT from Tufts University. Alyssa has taught in Philadelphia, PA and most recently in Gorham, NH. In addition to teaching, Alyssa has also worked as a nonprofit grant writer, guided teenagers on month-long backpacking trips, and spent time learning Spanish. Alyssa lives in Jackson with her husband Brian Walker. She enjoys running, backpacking, hiking, skiing, and anything else in the outdoors.

Alyssa will be attending the Flatbread Company North Conway benefit night for Kismet this Thursday, May 19th. A portion of every pizza purchased will be donated to Kismet and a variety of exciting items and services will be raffled to help raise funds as well. All friends of the organization are encouraged to attend to welcome Alyssa to the team.

Kismet will also be hosting a yard sale this weekend, May 21-22, from 8am-2pm each day. The yard sale will be at 2017 West Side Road in North Conway. If you have items you would like to donate please contact Lisa at 603-730-2715.

Kismet Rock Foundation (Kismet) is a North Conway, New Hampshire based non-profit that 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 cultures throughout their lives.

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Relevant links:

Bio for Alyssa, Kismet’s new Executive Director

Photo of Alyssa

Flatbread Company North Conway Website

Yard Sale information

This Word Document

North Conway, New Hampshire – April 25, 2011 – Flatbread Company, Frontside Grind Coffee and Espresso, and International Mountain Equipment, three exemplary local businesses, have teamed up to offer an innovative, rewarding way to raise funds for Kismet Rock Foundation.

Donors of $100 or more to Kismet’s summertime educational programs and/or those who sign up for Kismet’s monthly giving program at any amount will receive a coupon for a free large pizza from Flatbread Company, a free 12- or 16-ounce espresso-based drink from Frontside Grind and 10% off all shopping until September 1 at International Mountain Equipment.

“Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges are the premier cliffs for North Conway rock climbing,” said Brian Post, Kismet Board Chairman. “I can’t think of a better compliment to a day on those cliffs than morning coffee at Frontside Grind, stocking up on gear at International Mountain Equipment, and finishing the day with pizza at Flatbread Company. These local businesses are already big supporters of Kismet’s educational climbing programs, so we really appreciate their additional contributions to this special campaign.”

The Kismet Board of Directors is adding leverage to encourage donor support with their own challenge; the board will be matching all donations until June 1, 2011 up to $6,300.

The Village Variety Pass is available to donors until August 1, 2011.

Please visit www.kismetrockfoundation.org to donate to Kismet Rock Foundation today!

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 their potential, Kismet prepares students to positively contribute to their communities and their cultures throughout their lives. http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org

The Flatbread Company story begins in 1998 in Amesbury, Massachusetts, when
we opened our minds and then the doors, to the Flatbread Company. At “Flatbread”, the food is sacred. More often than not, the first bite of one of our flatbreads, for a first time customer, is very nearly a spiritual experience. http://flatbreadcompany.com/2007Home.htm

Frontside Grind Coffee and Espresso: really good coffee and espresso. http://www.frontsidecoffee.com/

International Mountain Equipment was founded in 1974 by Frank Simon, Bill Aughton and Paul Ross. In August 1979 RickWilcox purchased I.M.E. from its founders. Since that time I.M.E. has become a legend, and the number one outdoor shop for serious hikers, climbers and skiers in Northern New England. http://www.ime-usa.com/

Flatbread Company is one of our most consistent supporters, hosting annual benefit nights that typically bring in $1,000+, donating gift certificates to all of our events and fundraisers and hosting meetings as well.

Our students’ favorite meal of the week is often the one on Sunday, the first night they arrive, when we finish cooking half-baked flatbreads made fresh that day at the restaurant and eat together, family style.

On the May 19 benefit night, Flatbread Company will donate a portion of every single flatbread sold to Kismet. Kismet crew will also be there at the restaurant with some silent auction items and other activities to help raise money for this summer’s programs. Hope to see you there!

Thanks to the Flatbread Company crew for everything you continue to do to support Kismet!

Photos by Brian Post from Week 1 of 2010. View the rest of the Week 1 photos here.

Read it here

Where are you from originally and how did you end up in the Mount Washington Valley?
I grew up in CT, went to college in ME, and spent a couple years living in Utah and Oregon after graduating. More recently: there have been some extended travel breaks and a winter in New Mexico a few years ago, but I’ve been living in this area for the past 10 years. My most significant early connection to this area was working in the AMC Huts during college.

What do you do for work?
I’ve been self employed as a photographer for the past 7 years and my work is varied. As an example, I could be photographing a wedding one day and then hanging from a rope to shoot climbing a couple days later. I also enjoy working on websites and have started a website development company.

You have been involved with Kismet in many capacities over the years – all as a volunteer – from photographing students at the cliffs to design and upkeep of the website to your most recent role as the Chairman of the Board. What drives you to give so much of your time and energy to Kismet?
There’s no question that it can be hard to carve time out of our lives for volunteer work, but I know that Kismet is an amazing organization that impacts and changes students’ lives for the better.

What are your hopes for the organization during your tenure as Chair?
Kismet has experienced a great deal of growth, both in terms of children served in the program and maturity as an organization. I hope to help continue sustainable growth in both areas and additionally focus on financial stability.

Do you have a favorite story from your time out with the Kismet students?
I don’t have a specific story, but it’s always great to see students deal with and overcome mental challenges encountered while climbing.

You spend a lot of time in the White Mountains, skiing and climbing and photographing. Care to give up one of your favorite little-known spots for the Kismet audience?!
This is definitely not little known, but spending time in the alpine zone on Mount Washington will always be a favorite of mine.

Any other thoughts?
Thank you to all the supporters of Kismet. I would also encourage anyone to take the opportunity to meet our students through volunteering or attend a Kismet event.