West Chester rappelling event raises funds for local youth
By Kim Chiomento, News Editor, The Times
West Chester’s Mayor Carolyn Comitta rappels down the side of One Logan Square.
WEST CHESTER – When Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter invited West Chester’s Mayor Carolyn Comitta to rapel down the side of the 31 story One Logan Square to fundraise for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School; Comitta was ‘all-in.’ As the story goes, there was one important caveat to the mayors’ handshake agreement and challenge: Comitta stipulated that the funds she raised would be used to send 12 – 14 year-old girls, from the West Chester Area School District (WCASD), to have the Philadelphia Outward Bound School experience.
Comitta shared with The Times that while in her twenties, she participated in a Washington state Outward Bound program that exposed her to mountaineering. Comitta says, ” The self-confidence, trust and leadership skills I developed during this course decades ago continues to serve me well today!”
This friendly challenge has grown to include West Chester hosting a local, practice rappelling fundraising event. This Thursday, September 10, from 11 AM – 2 PM, the West Chester Fire Department Training Center will transform into a rappel training zone to help prepare enthusiasts for the larger One Logan Square ‘Building Adventure’ rappel scheduled for October 23. Proceeds raised by the West Chester rappellers will directly benefit deserving young women from WCASD.
Greater West Chester Sunrise Rotary Club member, Dennis Wallace, contacted The Times and has been working diligently to spread the word across the region for this event. His efforts have helped to recruit other Rotary Clubs and community leaders to secure adventurous volunteers to rappel and raise funds. Wallace says, “If this program can help any child change the trajectory of their life, build their self-confidence and help them ‘get a leg up’, that is all that is important to me.”
The cost to send a child to Philadelphia’s Outward Bound School ranges from approximately $1,500 – $2,300 depending on the length of their stay. Through Wallace’s and others’ efforts, Rotary is setting its sights ‘sky high’ on reaching a fundraising goal of $35,000. Wallace explained, “Anyone is welcome to rappel, but must commit to raising $2,000 to do so; it’s an amazing and exciting commitment.”
As of Friday afternoon, the following Rotary Clubs are participating in the event: Greater West Chester Sunrise, Westtown Goshen, West Chester, Longwood Rotary Club, Kennett Square, Kennett Square Rotaract Club (young professionals 18-30), West Grove – Avondale, Upper Main Line, King of Prussia, Oxford and Ardmore. The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is also supporting this event with 2 people rappelling.
Now in its fourth year, the Building Adventure rappel is designed to reflect the Philadelphia Outward Bound School’s mission to change lives through challenge and discovery; as explained on the buildingadventure.org website: “The 31-story rappel replicates the organization’s innovative youth development work, and mirrors what its outdoor education programs encourage young people to do every day: challenge themselves, discover untapped potential, and use it to make positive change in the world,” and the sites tagline boasts “418 Feet. 100 Rappellers. 31 Stories. No other event can promise this adventure.”
Founded in 1941 by educator Kurt Hahn, nonprofit Outward Bound is the pioneer and leading provider of experiential and outdoor education in the U.S., operating more than 40 programs in 29 nations. The Philadelphia Outward Bound School is locally led and locally focused but, like its counterparts, subscribes to the overarching philosophy that challenging learning expeditions can yield character development, leadership skills and service mindedness. Both in urban Philadelphia and regional wilderness environments, Outward Bound programs encompass environmental awareness and stewardship, and embrace the importance of compassionate leadership to empower positive change in communities.
The community is invited to come out and cheer-on the fearless fundraisers at Thursday’s West Chester practice rapell event (11AM – 2 PM, West Chester Fire Department Training Center, 351 Snyder Ave, West Chester, PA.) To get involved or donate, contact any of the above local Rotary Clubs or visit www.buildingadventure.org.
