10 over 10

When Jeff Krueger's good friend Craig Kelly - legendary snowboarding pioneer - died in a snowboarding accident in January, Krueger wanted to do something to honor his legacy. Building on Kelly's altruistic nature and the need for more youth mentors in Oregon, Krueger decided to find a way to give something back to the community. But, simply making a donation or volunteering some time wasn't enough. Mountaineer and snowboarder, Krueger has decided that over the next six weeks he will scale and snowboard down the 10 highest volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Portland and Outward Bound West's Pinnacle Scholarship Fund. Because each mountain is more than 10,000 feet tall, Krueger has named his quest "10 Over 10."

"Craig lived life as if every day was his last. Through his contagious love for the mountains and for helping kids, he has motivated and inspired me to try and make a difference," expressed Krueger. "Every kid deserves a chance to taste outdoor adventure and believe in their dreams. As a youth mentor myself, I've seen first hand the positive impact that having a caring adult role model can have on kids. So many of Oregon's young people need guidance, encouragement and positive energy to help them succeed in school and in life. Organizations like Outward Bound and Big Brothers/Big Sisters give kids a chance to enhance their self-esteem, learn problem solving skills and develop respect for the world around them. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, I thought this was the best way I could contribute support and build awareness about the good, vital programs these organizations provide."

Kids really are the future and we should all be paying more attention to them now. Investing love, encouragement and positive energy in kids today, will help make tomorrow a little brighter for everybody. Please help me in helping the kids by making a donation. Life is a short precious gift. Smile and tell a kid they're doing fantastic!