From Erik Weihenmayer No Barriers Founder:
I want to share some exciting news with you, and because of your support of No Barriers, I want you to be well informed! After months of careful deliberation, we have decided to join forces with an outstanding nonprofit organization called Global Explorers. By combining our efforts, we will create an effective, high-performance organization that fulfills our mission in new and exciting ways.
I have long been a supporter of Global Explorers’ outstanding educational youth travel programs for students and educators of all backgrounds and abilities. From taking blind and sighted youth to the summit of Kilimanjaro to providing international experiences to youth in poverty, Global Explorers fully embraces our No Barriers philosophy. No Barriers has been looking to add a strong youth component to what we do and I can think of no better organization than Global Explorers to head this up.
In addition, we will gain staff and board members who have extensive experience working with major corporate and government partners. We gain dedicated experts in nonprofit management and marketing. And, most importantly, we bring in new team members that share a deep passion for our mission.
Over the course of the next year, Global Explorers and No Barriers USA will be fully merging efforts under one united organization called No Barriers. Leading the effort will be our new Executive Director, Dave Shurna. Dave is the current director of Global Explorers and he will now be taking on the leadership of the merged organization. He has a proven ability to build strong sustainable nonprofit organizations that make unique and significant impacts on the world.
The new No Barriers will be operated out of Global Explorers existing offices in Fort Collins, Colorado. Over the course of the next several months, we’ll be revamping our website and materials to reflect the exciting expanded directions of our organization.
Our existing programming, including the No Barriers Summit and the Soldiers To Summits program, will not change. They’ll only get better! Plus, we’ll be adding an impressive suite of youth programs. Check them out at www.globalexplorers.org!
As for me, I will continue to play a strong role on the Board of Directors of the merged organization, as will other No Barriers board members. I will continue to secure new corporate partners for No Barriers and help with organizing life-changing experiences for all of our participants.
