On March 8, nine members of the Personiv executive team hiked the tallest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, as part of CEO David Lesniak’s Trek for a Cause benefitting Miracle Foundation, a non-profit that helps vulnerable orphans around the world. The trek began March 1, and ran for 48 miles up to the 19,341-foot Uhuru Peak, with seven days of hiking prior to the 15-hour summit day, all while the donation to Miracle Foundation topped out at $20K.
“One of the key tenants of Personiv is supporting the communities that we live and work in,” Lesniak said. “With this in mind, I wanted to make my upcoming trip to Tanzania a source of good for our communities in India.”
Trek for a Cause
The team consisted of David Lesniak, Mike Murphy, Vishal Bora, Paulo Cheung, Fred John, Matt Wood, John Nichols, David Graham, and Lydia Adams, all of whom made to the top at 19,341 feet after a grueling overnight trek. The summit day began at midnight, while the team trekked the final 5,000 feet in the dark to the peak stopping only to see the sunrise and summitting at 8:30 a.m.
All nine of the team were able to make it to the top successfully thanks to the superb program guides provided by the African Walking Company. As part of the trek, David Lesniak set out to raise funds for the Miracle Foundation to help children around the world. The fundraising effort was also a success with $20,000 raised embodying Personiv’s strong edict to give back.
“This was a stretch goal. It was tough, mentally challenging and for many of us, the most physically demanding thing we’ve ever done. But what we learned up there can be applied to all aspects of our lives, including the goals we have as a business,” Lesniak said. “At Personiv, we reach for the summit. We do what others can’t, and we make sure that we never settle for second-best. Together we have made a difference for many of these children.”
About Miracle Foundation
Miracle Foundation is a nonprofit that brings life-changing care to orphaned and vulnerable children across India. They believe that all children deserve an education, nutrition, healthcare, and a safe and loving family in which to grow up. Their THRIVE scale, a first-of-its-kind care model based on the UN Rights of the Child, has improved the lives of thousands of children, catalyzing measurable change within orphanages while facilitating the return of children to their families. The organization creates systemic change by training government and community-level caregivers to identify at-risk children, support vulnerable families, and prevent children from entering the orphanage system. They know that a family for every child, in our lifetime, is possible. For more information, visit www.MiracleFoundation.org.
