FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Peter was a huge outdoor enthusiast and believed his students should experience and learn from the natural world – especially if expected to develop an environmental ethic as young adults.  He was mindful that many of those young people do not have the awareness or the means to access the outdoors often beyond their reach, and he was determined to change that.

We absolutely encourage you to find organizations you support and to give to them generously. But our value is not to only find these very worthy programs, but to vet them and to follow up and ensure they’re results-oriented. We do all that without any pass-through fee. No overhead, no administrative cost.

PEAK was named in the days following Peter’s death and is shorthand for Peter Ewbank: Always KIPP.  The mountain imagery depicts the unique career challenges these students face.  We are proud to have boosted the prospects of five KIPP graduating classes – including eight PEAK scholarship recipients – since Peter died.   PEAK has fulfilled our pledge, and exceeded it by rewarding three other deserving scholars.

Partnering with KIPP was a natural fit for us in the wake of Peter’s death, and our work enabled the students and colleagues who admired him to further his impacts at KIPP.   In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have realized our mission and values are better served by partnering with acclaimed partner organizations that provide underprivileged youth with real-world experiences and life skills.  The more sustainable path forward features an annual entry-level position with ELK’s acclaimed Urban Ranger program where KIPP students have earned a competitive advantage.

The Foundation’s leadership has always worked on an unpaid basis.  Part-time seasonal coordinators supporting PEAK Achievers summer programming (camps, internships, community service projects) were funded in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Peter always inspired his students to push themselves beyond their believed limits.  The PEAK Foundation is dedicated to continuing Peter’s unwavering belief in the potential of all individuals, and the value of assisting those from disadvantaged origins.   Those values were reinforced during Peter’s favorite undergraduate class at Oregon: an English lit course held with young adults behind bars.