38 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE watched it transform 20 individuals’ lives in three months. One woman lost 20 pounds and reversed her diabetes; another individual lost 26 pounds.” Again and again, the team at K2 Adventures Foundation sees the monumental rebooting effects of being in the outdoors. “It refreshes people and helps them start over,” Sandquist said. “It helps clear their mind and gives a sense of peace.” It’s an effect Sandquist has experienced herself through her years trekking terrain, both external and internal. “I never expected it to change my life. And it did,” she said. “It’s changed me physically, mentally and emotionally.” Indeed, K2 Adventures Foundation programs are a Trojan horse of sorts, a gift that comes with secret benefits. What people realize — whether they are climbing Camelback Mountain or Machu Picchu — is that they can accomplish much more than they realize. “The training program, fitness and nutrition, teamwork, camaraderie, love and kindness make them more successful than they ever thought they would be,” Sandquist said. Along with an unwavering belief in the limitless potential of the human spirit, the team at K2 believes in collaboration. After all, teamwork is essential to navigating the challenges posed by a mountain. So, K2 Adventures Foundation partners with nonprofits all over Arizona. “That’s one of the biggest things I pride myself on,” Sandquist said. “We will never compete. We’ll raise our own money and build our own programs. But we will always work with other nonprofits, so if there’s something that they can’t do, we can do it.” Here is a recent example. Angels on Patrol, a nonprofit started by a former Phoenix police officer, got a call about a woman living on the streets with her dog. Jenny, a former nurse, had lost her legs and fingers from a fungal infection and was using a worn mobility chair. Angels on Patrol reached out to K2 Adventures Foundation, and Sandquist made a couple of phone calls. One was to BHHS Legacy Foundation, which supports K2’s Strength to Strive program. “What a blessing to help Angels on Patrol get a new electric wheelchair to help improve Jenny’s quality of life,” said BHHS Legacy Foundation CEO Gerald Wissink. “As a CEO, I’m all in on the power of nonprofits teaming up. It’s not just smart strategy — it’s required. When we collaborate, we make a bigger impact, use our resources smarter, come up with fresh ideas, and tackle the tough stuff in our communities.” Sandquist and Cherilla at the Masquerade Ball, K2 Adventures Foundation’s signature annual celebration. Sandquist with Cindy Wilhelmi, the visually impaired hiker she guided on her first climb with Foundation for Blind Children.

FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 39 Dedication to teamwork runs like a thread through all of K2 Adventures Foundation’s pursuits. The organization boasts one of the largest boards in Arizona. Between 36 board members, a junior board and an advisory board, it’s comprised of 56 individuals who are part of the K2 crew. “It’s a kind, warm, nurturing environment,” Sandquist said. “When you’re serving individuals with disablities, or mental health issues, or people that have lost something in their life, you have to approach it from a perspective of kindness.” The care and focus Sandquist applies to her work help explain why she doesn’t task herself with personal brand-building. Married to attorney Jeff Sandquist, she is mother to Cayden, Tyler and stepsons Joseph and Josh and enjoys a fruitful life away from the limelight. “We’re homebodies,” she said. “I work and spend time with my family — that’s it.” It’s a good bet her family did not predict Sandquist’s transformation from fundraiser to certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder. “It’s my way of making an impression for my family,” she said. “What are my kids and my husband going to say when I die? I would like them to say, ‘She lived her life of service. She was kind, she was giving, and she looked after others.’” So Sandquist goes about organizing K2 Adventures Foundation’s awards, programs and board meetings, along with fundraising events and finances. All the while, she periodically takes people to the mountaintop, providing tools to trace a personal path to wellness. Sandquist encourages others to get outside and experience the world. “If you have an opportunity to go to another place, see what kind of magic it brings you,” she said. “Because I truly believe that you come back with a little piece from anywhere you go.” The painting in her office epitomizes this. It’s a daily reminder of what she’s experienced in Tanzania and a prompt to share those gifts with the world. It’s also a testament to 25 years of nonprofit experience that have taken Sandquist from a classroom in Sheboygan to the peak of Mt. Fuji. “My life could have gone in many different directions,” she said. “It’s been impactful. It’s been challenging. But, boy, has it been rewarding.” To learn more, visit k2adventures.org . Sandquist strives to be a good role model for her blended family, which includes sons Cayden and Tyler and stepsons Joseph and Josh.