Help Riverstone Climbing Gym and Staff!
Donation protected
We all know the COVID-19 pandemic is crushing certain businesses with restaurants, gyms, hotels and travel being hit especially hard.
We love Riverstone Climbing Gym in Burlington, WA, their coaches, facilities and staff, and what they mean to our community, and they need our help right now during these tough times!
We have set a goal to support Riverstone Climbing Gym that will help them with the following expenses:
1. One month's payroll once they reopen ($2,800)
2. One month's rent for the gym ($3,900)
3. One month's utilities ($300)
4. One month's insurance payment ($370)
Their owner, Brandon Workman, provided me with the following letter of his/their story. He didn't mention in this story however, that he and Beth are about to have a new baby any day now. In addition to supporting this incredible gym, what an amazing gift it would be to support them as small business owners in Skagit Valley as they bring a new baby into the world!
Go Fund Me, The Story Of Riverstone Climbing Gym
Our story began with a simple dream of creating a place where friends,family, and community could gather to enjoy each other’s company while practicing what we feel is the most fun activity...climbing. This dream was also derived from a personal obsession that began in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and surrounding crags near Mammoth Lakes California.
After 10 years of being a snowboard and climbing “bum” in the Eastern Sierra area, Brandon thought it time to re-enter reality, so he packed up all of his belongings into a Ford pickup truck accompanied by his 120 lb American Bulldog “Chef” and headed for Seattle to try life in the big city. As city life’s appeal wore off rather quickly, Brandon felt the mountains calling him and so he talked his wife and bulldog into returning to a more rural way of life, first in Blaine and eventually in Mount Vernon, Skagit County. Something about Skagit County magnetized Brandon, it seemed to really have it all. Mild climate while having the mountains and plenty of water within minutes reach. Agriculture and varying culture. Underdeveloped rock climbing and a great hospital to work at. A wonderful blend of military, fishermen, mountain men and women, alpine, forest, river, farms, open sky and shady trees. Perfect.
Most importantly, people looked you in the eye. People said hello. People here hadn’t succumbed to the “rat race”. To Brandon, Skagit County was a special place that had EVERYTHING!..........except a climbing gym.
So was the birth of Riverstone “the idea”, but would it work? Many answers only created more questions. How big to build? Is there enough of a community interest? Is there an existing climbing community? How do we grow the climbing community? Where the heck do we build this thing!?
Then 10 years later, after many many attempts and revisions, questions were answered and with a lot of help, things somehow came together and Riverstone “the gym” was born in 2015. As a first time business person, Brandon was both excited and horrified. He was overwhelmed but not alone. His wife Beth always kept him and his dream alive.
From the friends who volunteered to move stuff off the truck, to family and friends who invested their trust and money into the gym. From the experienced coach and gym manager who shared his knowledge, to the young employee starting their first job. From the landlord allowing us to build something so crazy inside his building, to the crazy Bulgarians who constructed the amazing walls. From the Military members who drive over the Deception Pass bridge 3 times a week to come climb with us in Burlington, to the members living out of their vehicle yet still maintaining membership. From all the birthday parties, brandnew climbers, Jr. Team members, day trippers, old climbers dusting off their harnesses, 2 year olds and 80 year olds, youth groups, church groups, YMCA groups, deaf kids, adults with learning disabilities, athletes, artsy peeps, hippies, soldiers, farmers, forestry workers, YOU NAME IT! Riverstone Climbing Gym had taken shape and today is defined by one thing...community.
It pains us to say that despite tremendous community support that has propelled us into our 5th year as a successful business, it may not be enough to sustain us through the COVID 19 pandemic and associated mandatory closures. While in Phase 2 and allowed 30% occupancy, Riverstone was able to “almost” pay all of the bills and payroll but now that we are going on 2 months of 100% closure during our biggest income months, Riverstone finds itself in a struggle for its existence. We once again ask the community which views Riverstone as a great asset to Skagit County and harborer of Health and Fitness to all walks of life, for help.
Please consider a donation in order to keep our doors open, climbers climbing, and our employees employed. Your kind contributions will be used for 1 or more of the following;
1 month’s payroll once we reopen $2,800.00
1 month’s rent $3,900.00
1 month’s Utilities $300.00
1 month’s Insurance Payments $370.00
Our goal is to raise enough money to provide one or more of these 4 things once we reopen as our current resources have been tapped due to mandatory closures and stop to all income.
Thank you for all of the support and enabling us to turn a simple dream into such a special place.
Sincerely,
Riverstone staff, owners, and management
Thank you in advance for all of your support!
https://riverstoneclimbinggym.com/
We love Riverstone Climbing Gym in Burlington, WA, their coaches, facilities and staff, and what they mean to our community, and they need our help right now during these tough times!
We have set a goal to support Riverstone Climbing Gym that will help them with the following expenses:
1. One month's payroll once they reopen ($2,800)
2. One month's rent for the gym ($3,900)
3. One month's utilities ($300)
4. One month's insurance payment ($370)
Their owner, Brandon Workman, provided me with the following letter of his/their story. He didn't mention in this story however, that he and Beth are about to have a new baby any day now. In addition to supporting this incredible gym, what an amazing gift it would be to support them as small business owners in Skagit Valley as they bring a new baby into the world!
Go Fund Me, The Story Of Riverstone Climbing Gym
Our story began with a simple dream of creating a place where friends,family, and community could gather to enjoy each other’s company while practicing what we feel is the most fun activity...climbing. This dream was also derived from a personal obsession that began in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and surrounding crags near Mammoth Lakes California.
After 10 years of being a snowboard and climbing “bum” in the Eastern Sierra area, Brandon thought it time to re-enter reality, so he packed up all of his belongings into a Ford pickup truck accompanied by his 120 lb American Bulldog “Chef” and headed for Seattle to try life in the big city. As city life’s appeal wore off rather quickly, Brandon felt the mountains calling him and so he talked his wife and bulldog into returning to a more rural way of life, first in Blaine and eventually in Mount Vernon, Skagit County. Something about Skagit County magnetized Brandon, it seemed to really have it all. Mild climate while having the mountains and plenty of water within minutes reach. Agriculture and varying culture. Underdeveloped rock climbing and a great hospital to work at. A wonderful blend of military, fishermen, mountain men and women, alpine, forest, river, farms, open sky and shady trees. Perfect.
Most importantly, people looked you in the eye. People said hello. People here hadn’t succumbed to the “rat race”. To Brandon, Skagit County was a special place that had EVERYTHING!..........except a climbing gym.
So was the birth of Riverstone “the idea”, but would it work? Many answers only created more questions. How big to build? Is there enough of a community interest? Is there an existing climbing community? How do we grow the climbing community? Where the heck do we build this thing!?
Then 10 years later, after many many attempts and revisions, questions were answered and with a lot of help, things somehow came together and Riverstone “the gym” was born in 2015. As a first time business person, Brandon was both excited and horrified. He was overwhelmed but not alone. His wife Beth always kept him and his dream alive.
From the friends who volunteered to move stuff off the truck, to family and friends who invested their trust and money into the gym. From the experienced coach and gym manager who shared his knowledge, to the young employee starting their first job. From the landlord allowing us to build something so crazy inside his building, to the crazy Bulgarians who constructed the amazing walls. From the Military members who drive over the Deception Pass bridge 3 times a week to come climb with us in Burlington, to the members living out of their vehicle yet still maintaining membership. From all the birthday parties, brandnew climbers, Jr. Team members, day trippers, old climbers dusting off their harnesses, 2 year olds and 80 year olds, youth groups, church groups, YMCA groups, deaf kids, adults with learning disabilities, athletes, artsy peeps, hippies, soldiers, farmers, forestry workers, YOU NAME IT! Riverstone Climbing Gym had taken shape and today is defined by one thing...community.
It pains us to say that despite tremendous community support that has propelled us into our 5th year as a successful business, it may not be enough to sustain us through the COVID 19 pandemic and associated mandatory closures. While in Phase 2 and allowed 30% occupancy, Riverstone was able to “almost” pay all of the bills and payroll but now that we are going on 2 months of 100% closure during our biggest income months, Riverstone finds itself in a struggle for its existence. We once again ask the community which views Riverstone as a great asset to Skagit County and harborer of Health and Fitness to all walks of life, for help.
Please consider a donation in order to keep our doors open, climbers climbing, and our employees employed. Your kind contributions will be used for 1 or more of the following;
1 month’s payroll once we reopen $2,800.00
1 month’s rent $3,900.00
1 month’s Utilities $300.00
1 month’s Insurance Payments $370.00
Our goal is to raise enough money to provide one or more of these 4 things once we reopen as our current resources have been tapped due to mandatory closures and stop to all income.
Thank you for all of the support and enabling us to turn a simple dream into such a special place.
Sincerely,
Riverstone staff, owners, and management
Thank you in advance for all of your support!
https://riverstoneclimbinggym.com/
Organizer and beneficiary
Perry Somers
Organizer
Mount Vernon, WA
Brandon Workman
Beneficiary