Hey there - thanks for visiting my fundraising page!
I have committed to raising at least $1000 for the Navajo Village Heritage Center in Page, AZ in connection with the Antelope Canyon 55k I'll be running on February 25, 2017. The Navajo People have warmly and graciously welcomed us trail runners at the Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley ultramarathons for the past several years, allowing us to experience amazing landscapes which, in many cases, are not open to the general public without a hired Navajo guide. This fundraiser is an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.
The Navajo Village, an authentic recreation of a traditional Navajo home site, "started when three families noticed a need to preserve the Navajo Culture." The Navajo Village is 100% owned by Navajo People, and its mission is to share Navajo culture with visitors in a way that incorporates traditional teachings as well as modern representations of Native American culture. In addition to helping the Navajo Village itself, your donations will also benefit the local high school cross-country team and various projects on the reservation.
For those of you who have asked about tax deductibility of these donations, my answer (not to be construed as legal advice) is: I don't think these are tax deductible donations because the race organizer (Ultra Adventures/Vacation Races) is handling the distribution of the funds so that they can take care of the fees and logistics. This makes things easier for a small entity like the Navajo Village, but it does likely mean that donations are not deductible. Rest assured, however, that because they're taking care of the fees, 100% of your contribution will go towards the ultimate cause of helping the Navajo People in an impactful way.
I have until February 20th to reach my goal of $1000. Thank you for reading, and thank you for any donation you can make!
