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Kevin and Kristen are using their love for adventure to transform the lives of disabled individuals as well as bring hope and healing to orphanages in Tanzania, Cusco, and Katmandu.
Kevin Cherilla & Kristen Sandquist
Kevin Cherilla has been involved in the climbing community for over 20 years and in the non-profit world for the past seven years. Kevin has reached the summit of five of the seven continental summits, including Mt. Everest, and has led hundreds of individuals on over 60 international expeditions around the world. Many of the teams have included individuals with disabilities and have broken many world records. These teams have received many honors and recognition world wide for their efforts.
Kristen Sandquist has been involved in the non-profit world for over 20 years. She has started 3 non-profits herself and she has been on multiple boards all serving children and families around the world with disabilities. She started her first non-profit at the young age of 23 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin helping the less fortunate with basic necessities. Her small idea started in one school and is currently running 22 years later in 26 schools.
In 2009, Kevin and Kristen partnered in starting a non-profit called K2 Adventures Foundation Inc., a qualified 501(c) 3 nonprofit, national and international organization whose mission is to care for children, adults and families with special needs and or life changing medical circumstances by providing services, support and funds that will be used for educational and medical enrichment.
They also started an adventure travel company called K2 Adventure Travel that combines international hiking adventures with community service in orphanages or schools for the disabled.
Today, Kevin and Kristen serve the disabled community by changing the lives of individuals in orphanages in Tanzania, Africa; Cusco, Peru, and Katmandu, Nepal as well as in Arizona. They believe that all individuals, whether they are disabled or not, deserve the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.
During this interview Kevin and Kristen share leadership lessons, inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles, and how they help people fulfill their dreams, whether that be climbing a mountain, or some other dream they desire to accomplish.
They also share how they have integrated adventure travel with community service work; the latter of which often becomes the greatest part of the trip for travelers. Finally, Kristen explains what you need to know to start a non-profit, and the importance of having an effective board of directors.
Whether it’s raising millions of dollars to rebuild a school and orphanage in Tanzania, providing adaptive care to medically and cognitively challenged children in Cusco, or distributing over $500,000 worth of awards and grants to individuals and programs that serve the disabled community in Arizona, Kevin and Kristen continue to make their mark in the world, by helping those less fortunate.
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