Outward Bound California's annual high-rise fundraising event is back! On May 5th, I'll be rappelling off of the 46th floor of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square... crazy! It's a GIANT leap for me, literally and figuratively. But I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for a really good cause.

Any amount you can donate will help young people from lower-income communities get outside to challenge themselves and discover that there is more in them than they realize.

Outward Bound California is an educational nonprofit whose mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery. Through experiential education programs in both wilderness and urban settings, Outward Bound helps people discover strength of character, an ability to lead, and a desire to serve. Outward Bound California targets low-income, traditionally excluded populations from the outdoors industry by providing two in three of their students with a full or partial scholarship to participate in their programs. For more information, you may visit obca.org.

I'm joining my sis-in-law Belynda Ray's team this year for many reasons, and the big one is that if it weren't for Outward Bound, she may not have made it out of high school in SF alive. Now my family is whole thanks to her. Please read her testimony:

"I am fundraising for this program, not just because it is awesome, but also because I was granted many full scholarships to participate in their program throughout my entire high school years. Both my parents were hard core addicts and being at home was not safe for me. Aside from the dangers of sitting on used needles that were laying around the house, there was an overload of physical, mental, and emotional abuse in my home. I could have easily taken a road that led to self destruction.

Outward Bound gave me alternative options. The program taught me how to push myself to the limit and be strong enough not to take the same path as my parents. As a participant in this program I've learned how to coordinate with others and work towards a common goal, how to be an effective liaison within my community, how to lead others towards positivity, how to set the example for those younger than me, and most importantly (to me at least) how not to give up on anything I want to accomplish. With these skills, I’ve grown to be the confident person that I am and now get to pass on these wonderful traits to my kids."

Please join us in giving back. Whether it be a few bucks or a large donation, every little bit helps. My goal is to raise $5000 by May 5th. And then I shall proceed- with MUCH encouragement from Belynda- to lower myself down the side of a very tall building in downtown San Francisco. Mark your calendars and come watch!

With gratitude,
Celeste