November 3, 2022 – Asheville, NC – On a mission to create and share the highest performing outdoor gear in the least toxic, lowest impact way with its community, Astral is ushering in the season of gift-giving with its first annual Season of Giving campaign that combines charitable gifts and gear giveaways throughout November and December.
To kick off the campaign on November 1, Astral is opening nominations for its Season of Giving Giveaway Contest. Wanting to inspire philanthropy this holiday season from its community, Astral’s asking its fans to nominate an individual who puts nature first to win one of four $1,000 Astral gift cards. Nominees could also be featured on Astral’s Instagram. Nominations will be accepted through December 19 and winners will be selected by an internal committee and announced throughout the campaign with the final winner being selected on December 20.
On November 5, to continue the Season of Giving, Astral will be presenting a donation in the amount of $13,850 to Green River Access Fund (GRAF), which works to maintain permanent public access to the Green River, at the Green Race. The donation comes from the proceeds of Astral’s Heron LE GreenJacket sale and is the organization’s largest donation received to date.
The Green River and the Narrows, a stretch of highly technical whitewater that is the site of the Green Race and considered by many to be the pinnacle of whitewater racing in the Southeast, has played a formative role in many paddlers’ lives, including Astral Founder & CEO Philip Curry, who was among the first few groups to run the Narrows consistently in the early 1990s.
“It’s like you have a knot in your soul or your mind and [the Green] just loosens it and it’s gone,” says Curry of the Green’s effect and its significance in his own life. “You finish that river feeling so clean and refreshed. Mentally, spiritually, and physically.”
“To continue to build off our mission while giving back to organizations that help increase the access to wild spaces, we are thrilled to celebrate and amplify the athletes and artists in our community through the Season of Giving,” said Curry. “Astral is committed to offering unique experiences and programs and we’re excited to celebrate our network this season.”
Stay tuned for other subsequent event announcements including a program that will give 5% of sales to three non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting water and providing youth access to nature, American Rivers, Lonely Whale, and Muddy Sneakers.
For more information on Astral’s Season of Giving campaign visit the campaign’s page or contact Mindy Smith at mindy@darbycommunications.com.
About Astral
Established in 2002, Astral has grown to specialize in designing high performance wilderness equipment including PFDs and footwear, created in the least toxic, lowest impact ways. Built on decades of experience and experimentation, Astral has assembled athletes, artists, and craftspeople to build and use the cleanest, most beautiful, and highest performing products you can buy on the market. Most notably, Astral has significantly reduced toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for their paradigm changing footwear designs, and they’ve developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock. Visit www.astraldesigns.com for more information.
