About K2

Kristen Sandquist and Kevin Cherilla first met in March of 2009 when Kevin was training a group of 25 people to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  That team included 8 blind individuals and Kevin asked Kristen to help lead this expedition.

Following their record breaking and historic climb, in which all 25 teammates made the summit and broke four world records, Kevin and Kristen decided to combine their talents and start K2 Adventures Foundation, Inc., one of the only organizations that incorporates philanthropy and adventures travel around the world.  The rest they say is history…

K2 Adventures Foundation has provided resources – financial, tangible, time and people – to local Arizona charities as well as organizations in Tanzania, Peru, Haiti and Nepal.  

In Arizona, K2 has donated over $100,000 to charities who align with their mission through local events and sponsorships. 

In 2011, K2 Adventures Foundation took on their biggest endeavor by building and opening the first medical center for the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind in Moshi, Tanzania. These efforts provided 600+ children with their first interaction with a medical team and the much needed care that these children need.  In March, 2012, K2 Adventures Foundation is shipping two canisters with over $800,000 worth of supplies, computers, shoes, toys, blankets, medical equipment and more. Next for Tanzania, K2 will build a dental clinic on-property at the school.

Next up, in 2012, K2 will begin their Capital Campaign to build their own Ability Rehab Center in Phoenix, AZ.  This center will provide the much needed care for children with disabilities and their families in the Valley.

K2 Adventures Foundation is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

K2 Mission Statement

K2 Adventures Foundation, Inc., is a qualified 501(c)3, national and international organization formed to care for children and families with special needs and/or life changing medical circumstances by providing goods, services and funds that will be used for educational and medical enrichment.

Meet the Co-Founders

Kevin Cherilla is best known as a prominent businessman, philanthropist, motivational speaker and international mountain guide.  Kevin has led expeditions on six continents and in 20+ countries with his teams having a 92% success rate in reaching their destinations and goals.  This track record of accomplishment is why Kevin is well-respected and highly sought after in the climbing community.  

Kevin’s teams have appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Jay Leno, CNN as well as local news programs; he has also graced the covers of TIME, Outside, Climbing and Weekly Reader magazines. 

Kevin knew early on that adventure climbing was his passion, so he started his own international climbing company, K2 Summit Productions, a unique organization that engages all individuals who are up for the challenge of pushing themselves to extreme physical activity via hiking all over the world.  Kevin’s adventures are customized to meet the physical needs of each climber, as many climbs have included people with blindness, paralysis, and muscular dystrophy.  

In 2001, he served as base camp manager for the National Federation of the Blind Everest Expedition in which Erik Weihenmayer became the first and only blind person to summit Mt. Everest.  Six years later, in 2007, Kevin fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams and personally reached the summit of Mt. Everest.  And in 2012, Kevin will be guiding Kyle Menard who will be attempting to be the first the first quadruple congenital amputee to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro – a feat that Kevin has personally accomplished 11 times.

In 2009, Kevin started K2 Adventures Foundation with Kristen Sandquist and works full-time on K2 Adventures Foundation and K2 Summit Productions.  He is also a prominent speaker addressing hundreds of international corporations, foundations, universities, and schools with breathtaking expedition photos and award-winning video footage of overcoming challenges, building motivation, and reaching individual and team goals.

Kevin is the proud father of Adam and Lindsey and husband to Jenny.  Kevin can be reached at Kevin@K2Adventures.org 

Kristen Sandquist is best known as a philanthropist and businesswoman who started her first non-profit organization in 1996 while teaching in Wisconsin.  There, she noticed the startling number of children who had no jackets or basic necessities and Circle of Friends, her first non-profit organization, was born.  Since then, the program has provided over $200,000 in monetary donations, winter coats and basic necessities for the underprivileged in the Wisconsin community.

In 2003, Kristen founded her second non-profit, Visions of Hope in Scottsdale, AZ, which contributes 100% of raised funds to local Arizona organizations such as Whispering Hope Ranch, the Arizona Humane Society, Hacienda HealthCare, and the Friend Playground Club. To date, the program has donated over $1,000,000 in monetary donations.    

In 2009, Kristen was part of the climbing team that enabled 8 blind individuals to summit Mt Kilimanjaro while raising over $220,000 for The Foundation for Blind Children.  On that trip, Kristen had the opportunity to work with the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind which was a life-changing experience and one that has re-directed her philanthropic focus.  Kristen parlayed her passion for community and adventure and started K2 Adventures Foundation with Kevin Cherilla and is now a certified international mountain guide.  

Today, Kristen works full-time on K2 Adventures Foundation and K2 Summit Productions and continues to provide resources to other non-profits all over the world. 

Kristen is the proud mother of 4 boys and wife to Jeff.  Kristen can be reached at Kristen@K2Adventures.org