LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continuing its annual tradition of recognizing leaders dedicated to increasing youth access to recreation opportunities, the National Recreation Foundation (NRF) recently announced Manny Almonte as the recipient of its 2023 Robert W. Crawford Prize.
Almonte is a founder of the nonprofit organization Young Masterminds Initiative, which cultivates leadership skills and positive self-awareness in young men of color through unique experiences that teach the value of brotherhood, community, and the pursuit of excellence.
NRF specifically recognized Almonte for his creativity and steadfast commitment to changing the lives of young Black and Brown men. Through Young Mastermind Initiative’s Camping to Connect program, Almonte is increasing access and inclusion for BIPOC youth in the outdoors.
Camping to Connect uses outdoor recreation to instill self-reliance, healthy lifestyle choices, leadership, introspection, and brotherhood. “In the quiet of the forest, we hold conversations on topics like race, masculinity, and mental health that tackle the meaningful issues these youth face in America’s cities,” said Almonte. “These trips also show our young participants and their families that America’s outdoor spaces are safe and theirs to benefit from, too.”
The power of connection to nature is highlighted in the award-winning short film, Wood Hood, which follows a group of young men on a wilderness journey with Camping to Connect. Produced by Almonte and Young Masterminds Initiative co-founder, Andy Isaacson, Wood Hood urges viewers to recognize the power and potential of a world where nature is accessible and inclusive for all. In 2022, Wood Hood won Best Short Film at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival and the Act Now! Award at the Crested Butte Film Festival.
Almonte formally received the Crawford Prize at the Annual Meeting of NRF’s Board of Trustees in Durham, North Carolina.
Reflecting on the award, Almonte said, “It is an honor to receive this award and to be respected by those who understand the value of investing in a community beyond its immediate neighbors. Young Masterminds Initiative has been asked to collaborate and expand our Camping to Connect program all over the country, from the Bay Area to Portland, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and Texas. The prize money is going to allow us to build capacity, hire staff and expand so we can do more of this good work.”
About Manny Almonte
Manny Almonte is the visionary founder of the Mastermind Connect men's collective and the Young Masterminds Initiative nonprofit organization. Through these platforms, Almonte curates transformative experiences, enabling men of color to forge profound connections with their passions, inner selves, and communities.
With roots deeply entrenched in the Dominican Republic, complemented by the electrifying spirit of Brooklyn, NY, Manny's notable accomplishments include producing the award-winning, thought-provoking short film Wood Hood, which champions justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the outdoors. This film serves as a powerful testament to his highly acclaimed BIPOC-led youth program, Camping to Connect, where nature isn't just an escape—it's a vehicle for meaningful connections amongst young men from traditionally underserved communities in the New York City and Denver metro areas, with a vision to expand to other parts of America in the coming years.
The Crawford Prize
Presented annually since 2002, the Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize recognizes a living person who has dedicated themselves to enhancing recreation opportunities for youth, making it possible for more young people to live healthy, participatory lives, thus reinforcing the work of the National Recreation Foundation. Each year, the Prize is awarded to a person, professional or volunteer, who has made an extraordinary contribution to advancing recreation programs for youth from disadvantaged circumstances. The Prize winner then directs the $50,000 cash prize to support the nonprofit of their choice that addresses the needs of youth through outdoor recreation.
About the National Recreation Foundation
The National Recreation Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the role of recreation as a positive force in improving the quality of life of youth. Over the past decade, the National Recreation Foundation has distributed over $19 million to more than 270 grantees across the country. To learn more, visit www.nationalrecreationfoundation.org.
