How A Grassroots Community Raised Over $100,000 to Save A Queer Black Woman Owned Rock Climbing Gym
Coral Cliffs Rock Climbing Center is the only queer Black woman owned climbing gym in the United States. The owner, Abby Dione (above), was surprised by an online fundraiser which raised over $100,000 in less than 48 hrs to help save her facility from coronavirus related financial hardship
In less than 48 hrs, a fundraiser started by a Vancouver based climber raised over $100,000 to help save a queer Black woman owned climbing gym - the only one of its kind in the U.S. - from permanent closure due to pandemic related financial hardship. The initial goal of $25,000 was quickly surpassed, thanks to a generous outpouring of support from fellow climbers, customers as well as perfect strangers from across North America. The donations ranged in size from a few dollars to over one thousand dollars. Many of the 3.6k+ people who donated had a personal connection to the gym, Coral Cliffs Rock Climbing Center — however, others gave for different reasons.
“The more [climbing] gyms the better, big or small,” said Steven Deering. “It's important to support black owned businesses,” wrote Damion Blair on the GoFundMe page. Other contributors described meeting the owner, Abby Dione, at climbing events across the U.S. to include Color the Crag and Flash Foxy Women’s Climbing Festival. “She was so down to earth, encouraging, strong, and an all around bad-ass!” said Claire Barber who attended a clinic at Colorado College where Dione was an instructor. Oscar Cely wrote, “thanks to Abby and her climbing gym, I met my wife climbing, moved to Boulder and now we have a wonderful daughter that also climbs at 2 years old.”
Coral Cliffs is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s owned and operated by Dione who purchased the facility in 2011. The creator of the fundraiser, Anaheed Saatchi is a non-binary climber, writer and feminist from Vancouver, Canada. They had the following to say about the success of the fundraiser:
“There is a lot to be grateful for and to be proud of. This campaign succeeded because of community support and no major brands can claim it. It belongs to all of us. I care deeply for [Dione], a lot of us do, and her success creates a healthier ecosystem for everyone in the climbing industry.”
That’s the power of grassroots advocacy!
When my Mom, a Salvadoran immigrant, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) at 64, I never imagined that a year later, she'd be scaling 60-foot walls with the grace and determination of a seasoned climber. Hers is a story of resilience, community, and the unexpected joy found in facing challenges head-on.