T3 Founders Nominated for L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes Award

Carol & Bob Leone, founders of the all-volunteer nonprofit Teens To Trails, have been selected as one of 10 nominees for this year’s L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes Award, developed to thank those who have dedicated their time to help conserve, educate and honor the outdoors. You can read their story and help the Leones win $5000 for their organization by voting on the L.L.Bean website during the month of July. With over 600 nominations nationwide, the Leones were chosen among the finalists.

Carol & Bob started Teens To Trails in 2006 after losing their younger daughter Sara Leone in a car accident. “Losing Sara was devastating” shares Carol Leone. “It felt important all of a sudden to put our energy into something worthwhile - to try to make a difference. Teens To Trails grew from our concern over the growing disconnect between young people & nature. Sara's love of life, her passion and compassion stemmed from her many outdoor experiences. Bob & I found strength in our own ties to the natural world & we are constantly boosted by wonderful memories of family time spent outdoors. Teens need these outdoor experiences to provide roots to this world and to see them through the hard times.”

Teens To Trails (also called “T3”) is working to engage Maine teens in the outdoors. Their goal is to establish an Outdoor Adventure or Outing Club in every high school in Maine so that every teen has access to outdoor opportunities.

Each year L.L. Bean recognizes individuals who are helping to conserve, educate and honor the outdoors through his or her contributions to a qualifying nonprofit organization. These are people who may not make the front-page news, but who change the world around us for the better. There is a short video and description of each of the Outdoor Heroes nominees on the L.L.Bean website at www.llbean.com/heroes. You can help the Leones win $5000 for their organization by voting on the L.L.Bean website during the month of July