Corporate Partners

First Descents is the official charity partner of the Leadville Race Series. Over the past 13 years, FD has fielded teams for the Leadville 100 MTB and Trail 100 races. Together, our athletes have raised over $1 million in support of our work to extend the healing power of adventure to caregivers, healthcare workers, and young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.

THOR Industries family of companies represents the world’s largest manufacturer of RVs including Airstream, Jayco, and more. Over the past few years, THOR Industries has helped create unique program experiences through the support and use of their RVs in Joshua Tree, California and along the Blackfoot River, Montana, producing and creating powerful video stories along the way, to spread awareness and extend the healing power of adventure to more young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.

First Descents Founder Brad Ludden was honored in 2016 as a Top 10 CNN Hero. Since then, First Descents has partnered with CNN Heroes to tell powerful digital stories about our local adventure programs, our program expansion into serving young adults living with multiple sclerosis, and the nationwide launch of Hero Recharge, our free adventure programs for healthcare workers on the COVID-19 frontlines.

First Descents is an official charity partner of Cascade Lakes Relay. Each year, First Descents fields teams of runners for a fun and unique race, that combines our shared love of adventure, community, and fundraising for First Descents. As an organization, Cascade Relays produces overnight team races, including the Cascade Lakes Relay, Oregon’s most challenging running relay race.

Bespoke is an experiential marketing agency that curates experiences that bring clients' stories to life with purpose and intentional attendee engagement. Bespoke has partnered with First Descents on key fundraising events including the First Descents Ball for 5+ years.

Kite, a Gilead company, is dedicated to achieving one of the most ambitious goals of 21st century medicine: curing cancer. Kite also believes in total cancer care and supports of organizations that compliment clinical treatments to improve health and survivorship.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), is committed to getting people outside and supporting organizations that embrace and protect our wild places. REI’s vast network of Outdoor Schools and talented guides will serve as implementation partners for First Descents programs nationwide beginning in 2018.

Aetna believes in advancing social and lifestyle determinants of health at the community level. As such, Aetna supports First Descents' local adventure communities in key geographies nationwide. Equally inspiring, Aetna employees are rallying behind FD Climbathon to extend the healing power of adventure to more young adults impacted by cancer.

Considered the founder of the industry, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. First Descents and Genentech have developed a comprehensive partnership that includes leadership corporate giving, event sponsorship, and inspiring employee participation nationwide.

Velocity Global is the fastest growing international professional employer organization (PEO) helping companies hire employees anywhere in the world with speed and ease. Velocity Global sponsors multiple FD programs annually. Equally inspiring, VG employees participate in the Ragnar Trail Snowmass event, raising funds and awareness for First Descents.

The host and sponsor of the annual First Descents Ball, the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch offers an unforgettable escape in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Evoking a traditional mountain lodge, the hotel offers unmatched ski-in/ski-out access, a renowned spa, luxurious accommodations and locally inspired dining.

Prather’s Market customers and employees know that time in the mountains is nourishment. Each year Prather’s Market generously underwrites several local FD adventures, including rock and ice-climbing, and paddling on the upper-Colorado river.

Cambridge-based Takeda Oncology endeavors to deliver novel medicines to patients with cancer worldwide. Takeda and their employees are also deeply committed to advancing patient quality of life through volunteerism and charitable giving. Each year, Takeda underwrites several multi-day adventure programs for young adults impacted by cancer.

With 688 branches nationwide, BBVA believes in working at the community level to provide banking solutions, support businesses and create change. First Descents is honored to have BBVA’s support of our Colorado-based events and programs.

Bonfire Brewing is a fantastic brewery located in Eagle, Colorado.  Bonfire is the longstanding Presenting Sponsor of First Descents' annual event, Man of the Cliff.  They also brew a special beer just for Man of The Cliff, and their tap room always has a great list of beers flowing.  Bonfire Brewing's generous support has funded numerous multi-day First Descents programs.

WILDSTORY is a storytelling and content strategy shop that builds powerful, authentic conversations that change the way people FEEL about brands. First Descents is fortunate to have WILDSTORY’s pro-bono guidance and strategic insights.

Committed to accelerating hope through technology and data, Medidata improves the way Clinical Research is designed, conducted, and analyzed. They also believe strongly in advancing patient quality of life. Medidata supports First Descents’ San Francisco Tributary.

FluidStance generously donates 1% of all their sales to First Descents to help us reach more young adults impacted by cancer. The partnership is a natural outgrowth of FluidStance's mission to live life in motion. To date, FluidStance has sponsored more than 75 young adults to FD programs nationwide

Jackson-based Stio was founded to inspire connection with the outdoors through beautiful, functional products infused with mountain soul. FD Founder Brad Ludden currently serves as a Stio Ambassador and Stio truly embodies the Out Living It mantra by encouraging their customers to get outside and keep adventuring.

Teatulia has provided generous support through corporate donations that play a central role in advancing First Descents mission of reaching the 70,000 young adults diagnosed with cancer each year. As a corporate partner, Teatulia donates $1 from every Energy Tea sold nationwide.

KIND Snacks know that nutrition is key. With a joint focus on the healing properties of healthy food and nutrition education, KIND Snacks has been a generous partner of First Descents sponsoring the Out Cooking It Cookbook and providing KIND bars to FD programs to help power our participants all day long.

Fishpond knows all about the healing power of adventure and spending time outdoors. As a long-standing partner, Fishpond has supported First Descents in a variety of ways including a percentage of corporate sales, in-kind donations to our marquee events including The 80's Ski Party and the Annual First Descents Ball, and through various consumer packaged goods campaigns.

Headspace's motto is "meditation made simple". With a joint focus on the benefits of living mindfully, Headspace and First Descents have a partnership focused on spreading awareness about the benefits of meditation throughout our community. Headspace provides free year-long memberships to all First Descents alumni.

Earth Treks support First Descents programs and our nationwide Climbathon event as an official rock climbing partner.

Primal is one of the leading creators of innovative cycling wear across the country. For several years, Primal has decked our Leadville MTB Teams out in the best swag donating all bike kits for our 20+ riders each year.