American Whitewater has announced that the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) of Bryson City, NC has become its first Gold Level Corporate Sponsor, contributing $10,000 in 2002 to save, restore and protect access to whitewater rivers in the United States.
“This is the greatest corporate commitment we have achieved to date, and are thrilled,” notes Risa Shimoda, Executive Director of American Whitewater. “ The NOC has long been an in-kind supporter of AW. They have stepped forward with this effort as an acknowledgement that the work we do not only protects the rivers and access we have, but will be restoring whitewater hat will serve to ‘create’ venues on which paddlers can enjoy resources that might have remained dry without our intervention.”
As the newest participant in the American Whitewater W.A.V.E (Working Access Venues Everyday) corporate sponsorship program, NOC will enroll participants in their ‘Rapid Progressions’ instruction program as American Whitewater members. “We are excited to be able to provide our Rapid Progressions participants the opportunity to continue their interest in paddling through membership of AW,” comments Wayne Dickert, NOC Instruction Manager. “We feel it’s important for beginning paddlers to have the awareness of how AW it helping restore and protect our rivers.” Other corporate sponsors include Immersion Research, Mountain Surf and Extrasport.
American Whitewater is the only national member organization that on a national basis, seeks to restore and protect healthy whitewater rivers and safe access to them. As organizer of events and festivals, AW works hard, engages hundreds of volunteers to share the satisfaction of helping rivers, and celebrates with a national series of events and festivals, including this year’s Teva Tour. For more information, contact Risa Shimoda 301.589.9453 risa@amwhitewater.org or rapidprogressions.com.