Process Magazine Article About Location3

Process magazine, a quarterly journal published for the communications industry, wrote an article about Location3 Media’s work with SOS Outreach for their Winter 2009 issue. Read the full article and view a copy of the print version below.

Giving Back: Location3 Media Opens Hearts, Lends Hands to Community

In Colorado, the “great outdoors” is as much a part of the culture and way of living as it is a part of the natural landscape. The majestic rocky mountains and the lush forests bring a sense of calm and escape to a busy and often stressful world, particularly for disadvantaged and at-risk youth.

That’s why Location3 Media, an interactive marketing company in Denver, is involved with SOS Outreach, a youth outdoor charity focused on career-building and self-esteem through outdoor activities. In winter months, the organization teaches youth to ski, snowboard and snowshoe. This summer marked the first year they offered summer activities, including rock climbing, back packing, camping and hiking.

“Being involved with SOS Outreach was a no-brainer,” says Alex Porter, the company’s vice president and a former snowboarding instructor. “We’re such an active company, the majority of us board or ski and all of us are avid hikers, campers and all-around outdoor enthusiasts.”

The organization was founded in 1993 in Vail Valley and began as the Snowboard Outreach Society, before expanding to include skiing. In January, SOS Outreach merged with Meet the Wilderness and now offers year-round programming.

Winter programs include SnowCore, a group of skiing lesson programs; Learn to Ride, which involves five days of professional snowboard instruction that focuses on five core values: courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom and compassion; and Peak Ascent, a multi-day group program that challenges participants to scale a mountain peak at an elevation of 14,000 feet or higher.

Summer programs feature rock climbing and wilderness trips. There is also a trip specially designed for fourth graders to visit and camp at Dinosaur National Park or Colorado National Monument.

Since partnering with SOS Outreach, Location3 Media has offered support to the organization by providing marketing services, including managing their paid search marketing, SEO management and analytics programs. Since late May, visits to the SOS outreach website have increased more than 20 percent.

Location3 employees have also volunteered at several events, including Design the Modern Board in May, National Get Outdoors Day in June and Saturday of Service in July, when they helped tune skis and boards, and organize inventory at SOS Outreach’s Denver office.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Location3 spread the word about our programs,” says Arn Menconi, founder and executive director of SOS Outreach. “Given the downturn in the economy, we had to find new ways to get our message out, and their work has already begun to pay off for us.”