There are many ways to support Phoenix Multisport. We understand that each supporter has unique priorities. Recognizing this, we offer the opportunity to direct where donations are spent through our directed funding program. At the right side of the page you may choose to direct your funding to a certain area of our development using the directed funding drop-down menu. Read below to learn more about directed funding options. If you prefer, you may simply make a “General Operations” donation (and make it recurring if you choose); this option allows us to use funds for any expenses we incur, including things like purchasing camping equipment, participant gym entrance fees, staff salaries, etc.
Support a Specific Chapter
Nothing feels better than to give back to the community that you live in. We provide the opportunity to do exactly that by directing the funds you donate specifically to the chapter in your town. Simply select the Chapter in the donation section of the right sidebar, and your contribution will be designated to be spent there.
Boulder
Our Boulder Chapter is where it all began. Since 2007 we have been hosting events in the Boulder area, including weekly rock climbing at the Boulder Rock Club, which remains our most popular program. Additionally, we host regular hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, triathlon training, running, and yoga events. We run all of our programs with the intention of introducing individuals to new activities and to others with whom they can share in these pursuits, thereby building an active community of people living in sobriety. The sense of accomplishment that members experience when reaching the top of a mountain or finishing a long ride becomes a metaphor for living through addiction: overcoming adversity to achieve things beyond our expectations and dreams. Since the very beginning, providing access to opportunities to redefine life goals has been at the heart of what we do.
Our Boulder Chapter has grown to be the standard on which we model other chapters. Here, we developed solid policies and high standards for program execution, as reflected in the strong community we have built. This chapter is a benchmark of Phoenix programming. Our work here strengthens the quality of programs we deliver elsewhere. By supporting the Boulder Chapter, you’ll be helping us to develop and maintain high standards for our programming here and elsewhere.
Denver
In many of America’s inner cities, crime and poverty are unfortunate features of everyday life. Those lacking healthy opportunities for recreation often seek escape from this grim reality through drugs or alcohol. Consequently, this can lead to financial hardship and further criminal activity. This vicious cycle is often enduring and difficult to escape, particularly for those with limited access to sound alternatives. With our recent move to Denver, Phoenix is working to break this cycle, providing many inner-city residents with free access to healthy activities. Phoenix’s Denver Chapter was created to help meet the needs of a large, diverse population, many of whom face challenges vastly different than we’ve seen in our Boulder Chapter.
Our Champa Street location in the heart of Denver offers convenient access to our programming to people throughout the Metro area, including many inner-city residents. We’ve made adjustments to the list of disciplines we instruct, adding boxing clinics, Olympic weight training, slide shows, and other events more suited to an urban environment. By continually working to address the needs of this new and unique chapter, we’re helping thousands of people to live happier, more productive lives in sobriety.
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is a great city with a tremendous need for our services. Nestled in the valley at the base of Pikes Peak, this mid-sized city is home to a thriving community of athletes and hard-working men and women with strong values. Like most American cities, though, Colorado Springs sees its share of drug and alcohol problems. Soon after we began working with military groups in the area, we recognized a compelling need for the services we offer, and we began forming partnerships in the area. Initially, we began by adapting our chapter model to the community, providing free climbing lessons to sober participants two nights a week at the City Rock climbing gym. Word spread quickly through the tight-knit sober community, and we began expanding our programming to meet demand.
Colorado Springs has proved to be an exciting place for the Phoenix model to flourish. There remains much potential for growth, but we have made considerable strides, increasing our presence with the addition of a third full-time instructor. By giving people the skills to embark on new adventures and providing a safe environment in which to meet new sober friends, we’re helping hundreds of people to realize their true potential and supporting their sobriety in the process.
Military
Phoenix Multisport recognizes the great sacrifice US military personnel make for our country. The physical and mental stresses of combat situations make return to civilian life incredibly challenging. One of the consequences of multiple and extended tours of duty is that soldiers are often exposed to a greater number of traumatic events. Research suggests that cumulative exposure to traumatic events significantly increases the risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Many soldiers struggling with PTS also struggle with depression and anxiety; too often they misuse alcohol and other substances in an attempt to cope. When untreated or not treated effectively, substance abuse associated with PTS can evolve into full-blown addiction, and secondary depression can result in suicide. Phoenix hopes to fight this trend by introducing soldiers to alternatives to drugs and alcohol. We believe that recreational activities held in supportive, social settings can act as positive coping mechanisms. By providing free access to fun, relaxed activities such as rock-climbing, hiking, and mountain biking, we offer military men and women the opportunity to interact with peers who have used these tools to help overcome addiction.
Research & Analysis
In order for Phoenix to best meet the needs of the people we serve, it is important that we continually test the efficacy of our programming. Recognizing the value of data, we began tracking event attendance from the start, and soon developed a basic system of evaluation. Working with information collected from sign-in sheets at events, we track data such as membership growth, discipline-specific attendance, and recurring participation. Observing attendance trends allows us to make continued adjustments to improve our programming, e.g. adding instructors to popular events or increasing accessibility at others by changing times or locations.
As we continue to expand into new chapters, it is critical that we develop a more sophisticated system of evaluating data. Advanced evaluation will enable us to demonstrate what we have believed from the start: that introducing people in recovery to a sober, active community will help them to lead happier, healthier lives and improve their chances for sustained sobriety. This will begin with a deeper analysis of current data, but will also require tracking other variables. We recently began surveying participants to gather information such as participant demographics, mental health history, employment, relapse occurrence, and other factors integral to shaping our mission. A recent grant has enabled us to develop a pilot outcomes and evaluations study which will be launched in the coming months. We’d like to extend our gratitude to the Daniels Fund for making this research study possible.
Donations at Every Level Help Phoenix
Your $10 - $100 donation helps us to continue providing our weekly programming; this might include a new participant learning to climb at one of our partner gyms. These fun, dynamic events provide great opportunities for those new to Phoenix to meet other team members and give participants an immediate sense of accomplishment when they make it to the top of the climbing wall!
Your $100 - $250 donation gives Phoenix the opportunity to provide more technically advanced or logistically involved programming. This could include taking several participants on an overnight hiking and camping trip in the backcountry with our instructors. Endeavors like these require teamwork, training, and weeks of planning, resulting in a shared experience that helps form strong bonds between members. Contributions in this range provides us the opportunity to teach people unique skills to bring to their new lives in sobriety.
Your $250 - $2500 donation provides much-needed equipment like bikes, tents, and climbing gear to team members who can’t afford these items, and would otherwise be unable to participate in many of our events. Support at higher levels also helps provide continued training for our instructors. We pride ourselves on our expertise in our fields, and maintain nationally recognized certifications to ensure safety and skill.
Become a Phoenix 50 Member
The Phoenix 50 Program is a commitment to donate a minimum $5000 per year for at least two years. Our current Phoenix 50 members representative a broad spectrum of people, from business owners to social activists to parents, all of whom have been touched by Phoenix’s mission in some way and have the ability to give back at this level. Many of the Phoenix 50 donors have increased their commitment for a period of three, four and even five years. Some have given far beyond the $5000 minimum donation and have contributed significant portions of Phoenix’s operating budget. By joining the Phoenix 50 program you will be helping Phoenix play in instrumental role in combating addition.