Marla Johnson Talks Peer-to-Peer Fundraising After Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in support of Parks & People
Marla Johnson (third from the left) visits Parks & People to share her journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
Originally from West Virginia, Marla Johnson has been calling Baltimore home for many years. Marla’s appreciation for hiking, nature, and the outdoors began in her mountain-filled home state. Even though it looked a little different here, that same love for green spaces stayed with her when she moved to Baltimore. Her love for the city runs deep. She enjoys long walks and moments of pause in Patterson Park and Druid Hill. Like so many of us, she sees our parks as more than green spaces. They’re places to breathe, belong, and build community.
Marla has gone on multiple hiking adventures across the U.S. and beyond. She climbed the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and completed one of Central America’s most challenging hikes, Guatemala’s Acatenango Volcano. But she wasn’t done there; she wanted something even more challenging. On February 6th, 2026, Marla packed her bags to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Before her trip, Marla knew she wanted to make the hike even more meaningful. She wanted a way to bring this experience back home and give back to the things she most cares about— Baltimore, its parks, and its people. We met with Marla in late 2025 to hear her story and vision for the adventure. She was committed and interested in supporting Parks & People’s work, and we were committed to uplifting and sharing her incredible story.
Marla gathered her family, friends, and neighbors to help raise funds for Parks & People. Through her peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, she raised more than $1,000 before she had even landed in Tanzania. This is a clear, powerful example of what communities can accomplish together.
From February 9th to the 15th, Marla climbed the treacherous slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. As she met new people and reached new heights, both mentally and physically, she found motivation and peace in knowing that a whole community back home was cheering her on, and that she was doing this for something bigger than herself.
On the final night before heading back down the mountain, Marla woke up at 10 pm to begin her climb to the summit at 11. The climb was dark, cold, and physically demanding, with the high altitude making each step and each breath more difficult. As she continued upward, she carried the encouragement of everyone who had supported her journey. When she finally reached the top, the view was beyond words. No photo could fully capture the scale, beauty, or feeling of that moment.
After her climb, we met with Marla at the Parks & People campus to show her around our grounds and talk about what it meant to reach the summit. She shared that while Mount Kilimanjaro was an extraordinary experience, you do not have to travel across the world or climb a mountain to feel the benefits of being outdoors. The nature around us, right here in Baltimore, is beautiful and restorative in its own way. For Marla, that is part of what made this journey so meaningful: it connected a once-in-a-lifetime adventure back to the local parks, green spaces, and community she loves.
When reflecting on her fundraising experience, Marla said she was surprised by how easy it was to get everything set up. She felt encouraged by how many people supported both her personal adventure and Parks & People’s mission. “The world feels heavy right now,” Marla said, which is why she wanted to use her adventure to give back to the community. She highlighted the importance of supporting local nonprofits during these times. Whether through volunteering, peer-to-peer fundraising, or donating, there is always a way to give back.
Marla’s adventure has shown her that she can do hard things, and she hopes that it shows others that you can do anything you set your mind to. Her journey is a reminder that caring for the places we love can take many forms—and that when passion meets action, small steps (or big climbs) can help build a future where both nature and community continue to thrive.
Thank you, Marla and friends, for using this incredible adventure to support our work.
If you’re interested in creating your own peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, email giving@parksandpeople.org to get started.
Visit Marla’s fundraising page to learn more about what this climb represents to her.
“When you partner with a nonprofit, there's always an excitement and commitment you hold. I'm doing this for a cause; I want to do my best.”
