The Brannen Maloney International Legacy Fund

Branney Maloney lived a life that embodied many of the core principles at GOALS Youth River Expeditions. 

He wondered as he wandered - charging steep lines on skis and on his bike; navigating exciting rapids & relishing time in the calm pools. He prioritized getting his passport stamped, then left his own indelible stamp on the people and places he interacted with.  Ultimately, while building a lifestyle true to the "My life is better than your vacation" bumpersticker he also managed to create a community of people who quickly became addicted to his antics, his giggle, and his zest for life.  Now, we're asking that community to come together and turn tragedy into legacy; pain into positive.    

Brannen's life ended far too soon, but his legacy will live on through the Brannen Maloney International Legacy Fund at GOALS Youth River Expeditions.  GOALS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit using wilderness river expeditions to transform the future for kids and wild places. Our programs synchronously address adolescent mental health, the importance of environmental stewardship and the joy of outdoor adventure.  

Since 2010, GOALS has been serving kids on rivers throughout the western United States, while expanding our international offerings in Chile, Peru, and Nepal.  For kids who get excited about traveling outside of the US to immerse themselves in novel cultures & landscapes, cost is the single largest hurdle. This fund will reduce or eliminate that barrier - thereby carrying on Brannen's legacy by infusing the hearts and minds of today's youth with invaluable doses of adventure, empathy, and awareness of the growth that occurs when we move beyond our established "normal."  

Our immediate goal is to raise $10K that will support a few kids in 2024 GOALS international expeditions to South America.  These kids will be selected by a committee comprised of GOALS staff and Brannen's closest friends/family members - and they will be expected to report back on ways that the support they received from this fund has transformed them.  Over time, we aspire to raise enough that an endowment is set up in Brannen's honor which will provide recurring long-term support for the kids in our international expeditions.  

Please give generously to help GOALS carry out a mission that would undoubtedly resonate with Brannen - keeping his adventurous, wanderlust spirit alive and well, while creating exceptional opportunities for kids to grow, and leave their own stamp on the places they'll explore and the people they'll connect with.  

Somewhere, I like to think that B is grinning, and that twinkle in his eye is proud of the work we're doing in his honor.  Thank you for being a part of it.

***IMPORTANT NOTE:  When you choose to give, please leave a short comment about where you're donating from so that we can see how wide Brannen's network of friends extended.  If you'd like to add a personal story about him, we encourage that, too!!