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The Philosophy & Backstory
Having a penchant for challenges, wanting to help others, having a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I founded Summits for Others. The idea being with every climb I do, I do so as a fundraiser for The Center for Global Initiatives in order to help to raise not only funds, but also awareness. I have already paid for all travel costs, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible.
Someone once said ‘No summit can change who you are, it merely changes the way you see who you are.’ I have learned of the power of the individual and the collective team, the power and the importance of my family and faith, and the many metaphorical climbing and life. After climbing, I bring back the typical trinkets to family and friends, but for myself, I bring back more personal souvenirs of hope, inspiration, and renewal. I have taken up mountain climbing (as very much the amateur). In doing so, I have set out to do the Seven Summits - reaching the top of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. I have been fortunate to have summited three of the easy ones so far: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe (Russia); and Mt. Kosciusko, Australia. I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Mt. Rainer, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak. |
The Parallels
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Mountaineering is quite similar to working on global health problems:
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The Goal
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We hope to raise funds for food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphan children (ages 3 to 12 years) with every climb we go on. We are working to treat malaria, TB, pneumonia, and immunosuppression in collaboration with local doctors, nurses, and staff. We have a particular focus on people with HIV infection and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro Region of the Rombo District.
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Please Donate Now
We're an all volunteer organization, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible.
Even just $1 makes a difference.
https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/218379
Even just $1 makes a difference.
https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/218379
"Everesting"
Yeah, it's a thing...
The idea is the quest to climb all of Everest’s 29,029 vertical feet in 36 hours, but without the travel to Nepal. We climb a mountain in Vermont with each 1.3 mile long summit climb with a gain of 1,750 vertical feet, once at the summit, you brand each lap into a custom wood board. Rinse and repeat for a total of 17 round-trips…! Big thanks to Jesse Itzler who founded this and made the video this homage is derivative of! Learn more about him and summiting your own Everest at https://29029everesting.com/
Check out our video to learn about how to transition from just traveling the world to learning how to change it.
The Center for Global Initiatives
The Center is a well-regarded and highly ranked non-profit that is dedicated to training multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and students to provide services that are integrated, sustainable, and have publicly accountable outcomes to areas of need, via multiple, small, context-specific collaboratives that integrate primary care, behavioral healthcare, health systems, and public health, and a context of social justice. We focus on the complex healthcare issues involved in humanitarian emergencies, underserved populations, and relief situations. All activities are grounded in science/evidence-based practice models and best practices. Learn more at http://CenterForGlobalInitiatives.org
Climbing Resume
Everest Base Camp Expedition - 2026
Back to the Himalayas!
I’m just back from completing my Climbing to Everest Base Camp Expedition in the Himalayas. Here are the quick numbers:
> 40+ miles covered (plus additional milage via acclimatization day hikes),
> Total elevation gain, 10,937 to a height of 17,400+ feet,
Seven progress days on the Himalayan trails, then
> Three days at Everest Base Camp,
> Coldest night there -27 degrees (plus wind-chill),
> Took 43:55 hours, and
> I lost 11 pounds.
Backstory
Having a penchant for weirdo challenges, wanting to help others, sharing a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, founding a global health nonprofit, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I established Summits for Others. The idea being with every climb I do, I do so as a fundraiser for my charity to help raise not only funds, but also awareness. I personally pay for all travel costs, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center and is 100% tax deductible. If you’re so inclined, you can make a tax-deductible donation, and PayPal waved their fee via this link.
You may know that I’ve been an Amateur Alpinist for a while now, having thus far climbed 3 of the world’s Seven Summits (or three-and-a-half is you count Everest Base Camp)🙃, I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
This climb will be in support of the Center and to fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker. The Center’s work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
We're an all-volunteer organization, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible. Even just $1 makes a difference.
The founding of my nonprofit began as a result of my first Seven Summit climb in Tanzania, and what I call having become an “Accidental Humanitarian.” Chicago’s NPR station WBEZ did a nice interview on the Center’s start. I’m raising funds 2 Hospitals and a kindergarten we co-founded for orphaned children. In addition, this climb will also fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker.
Doing hard things as an act of service,
Chris
I’m just back from completing my Climbing to Everest Base Camp Expedition in the Himalayas. Here are the quick numbers:
> 40+ miles covered (plus additional milage via acclimatization day hikes),
> Total elevation gain, 10,937 to a height of 17,400+ feet,
Seven progress days on the Himalayan trails, then
> Three days at Everest Base Camp,
> Coldest night there -27 degrees (plus wind-chill),
> Took 43:55 hours, and
> I lost 11 pounds.
Backstory
Having a penchant for weirdo challenges, wanting to help others, sharing a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, founding a global health nonprofit, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I established Summits for Others. The idea being with every climb I do, I do so as a fundraiser for my charity to help raise not only funds, but also awareness. I personally pay for all travel costs, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center and is 100% tax deductible. If you’re so inclined, you can make a tax-deductible donation, and PayPal waved their fee via this link.
You may know that I’ve been an Amateur Alpinist for a while now, having thus far climbed 3 of the world’s Seven Summits (or three-and-a-half is you count Everest Base Camp)🙃, I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
This climb will be in support of the Center and to fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker. The Center’s work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
We're an all-volunteer organization, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible. Even just $1 makes a difference.
The founding of my nonprofit began as a result of my first Seven Summit climb in Tanzania, and what I call having become an “Accidental Humanitarian.” Chicago’s NPR station WBEZ did a nice interview on the Center’s start. I’m raising funds 2 Hospitals and a kindergarten we co-founded for orphaned children. In addition, this climb will also fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker.
Doing hard things as an act of service,
Chris
Calling all Climbers, Alpinists and Mountaineers!
The nonprofit Center for Global Initiatives was founded based on my climbing experience of Kilimanjaro as part of my goal of doing the Seven Summits.
Every climb and similar adventure and/or athletic or sporting event that I participate in, I do so as a fund- and awareness-raiser for the Center, because I really hate asking people for donations, and this makes it easier for both parties.
Our work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
So, if you have an upcoming climb and would like to serve as an Alpinist Ambassador and have your climb also serve as a fundraising event, that would be great!
100% of any donations would go to the work of the Center as we all do not take any kind of salary, and all doners would be able to get a tax deduction on their contribution. We would publicize your expedition on all of our social channels and the reach would be around 3 million.
If you’d like to do so, or learn more, please feel free to reach me directly at [email protected].
Climb on!
Every climb and similar adventure and/or athletic or sporting event that I participate in, I do so as a fund- and awareness-raiser for the Center, because I really hate asking people for donations, and this makes it easier for both parties.
Our work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
So, if you have an upcoming climb and would like to serve as an Alpinist Ambassador and have your climb also serve as a fundraising event, that would be great!
100% of any donations would go to the work of the Center as we all do not take any kind of salary, and all doners would be able to get a tax deduction on their contribution. We would publicize your expedition on all of our social channels and the reach would be around 3 million.
If you’d like to do so, or learn more, please feel free to reach me directly at [email protected].
Climb on!
