WHITE SALMON — The Dan Thompson Memorial Fund awarded a $50,000 grant to the Columbia Gorge Junior Kayak Club. With this new funding, the club will create two key roles and hire its first employees: a program director and a marketing and outreach volunteer coordinator.
Naomi Elyard, founder and program director, said the grant is a transformative moment for the club.
“Our mission has always been to help kids build confidence, community and leadership through paddling,” said Elyard. “This generous grant allows us to deepen and expand that mission to reach even more young people in the Columbia Gorge and Portland communities.”
The club is building local access to a sport that can come with barriers to entry through volunteer-run weekly paddles, flatwater fundamentals, pool sessions and community events. Based in White Salmon, the club has rallied the region’s professional kayakers to help connect local kids to the sport and the outdoors, according to a press release.
Northwest River Supplies (NRS) also supports the Columbia Gorge Junior Kayak Club through its LEAD Ambassador Program. The Northwest-based brand’s long-standing commitment to paddlesports helps equip the club’s young athletes and broaden access to river experiences.
Anna Wagner, board president, said that access to local rivers can change a child’s life.
“When young people have the chance to learn on the water, they gain confidence and a deeper connection to this place we all call home,” said Wagner. “This funding helps us ensure that every kid — regardless of background — has the opportunity to discover what paddling can offer.”
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