Vail Resorts, Inc. has announced that the company’s CEO Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, founder of Elana’s Pantry, made personal contributions totaling $2 million to 12 local non-profit organizations in the communities where the company operates. Each of the contributions will be directed toward programs that support the welfare and education of children in these local communities.
The donation includes a $75,000 boost to Jackson’s Moose Corner Children’s Academy. This gift will be used to offset preschool costs for working families who struggle to afford daycare for their children as well as to grow and develop staff to provide exceptional care and early childhood education experiences. Jackson is the closest town to Vail Resorts’ Grand Teton Lodge Company, which operates the Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village and the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club.
“The success of our local communities brings a number of unique challenges that require our focus and attention – none more important than helping kids and families who are most vulnerable. Elana and I feel fortunate to be able to provide this support to these outstanding non-profits to allow them to continue their great work,” Rob Katz said.
Today’s announcement follows last year’s $1.5 million contribution by Rob and Elana to the Epic Promise Foundation, which provides grants to employees of Vail Resorts who are in need or are looking for additional educational opportunities.
Following are the 12 non-profit organizations receiving funds from this $2 million gift and the impact these funds will have on children and families in the local communities they serve.
Other donations include:
$250,000 – Our Community Foundation in Eagle County, Colo.
In 2016, the Summer Lunch program through Our Community Foundation provided 15,000 meals to local children in need as they are missing out on the 150,000 free or reduced lunches provided in schools during the rest of the year.
$250,000 – Summit Community Care Clinic in Summit County, Colo.
With this contribution, Summit Community Care Clinic (SCCC) will be able to continue to provide its robust and much needed behavioral health program at its current level. This gift translates into over 1,400 behavioral health visits that will be provided over the course of a year.
$250,000 – Park City Community Foundation for PC Tots in Summit County, Utah
This gift supports access to early childhood education by funding the opening of a second extended-day early learning center for PC Tots, thus significantly expanding the number of children of Park City’s workforce who will receive quality, affordable daycare and early childhood education.
$250,000 – SOS Outreach in Denver, Colo.
As a youth development non-profit, SOS Outreach engages more than 5,000 at-risk and underserved youth through year-round, outdoor adventure sports, including skiing and snowboarding.
$250,000 – Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) in Boulder, Colo.
The Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) provides food, financial assistance for medical and other needs, rent and utility bill assistance to prevent homelessness and shut offs, and connection to other resources for families, seniors and people living with disabilities in Boulder County.
US$250,000 (C$333,000) – The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to organizations whose activities provide benefit to residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor with a special emphasis placed on youth and family programs.
$125,000 – The Boys and Girls Club in North Lake Tahoe
This gift will support the expansion of the organization’s program in Truckee, Calif., to address youth and academic achievement, as well as to provide a safe place for teens to go.
US$75,000 (A$100,000) – Monaro Early Intervention Service in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
Monaro Early intervention Service provides a range of early intervention and therapy services for children from birth to the end of school, who have a disability or developmental delay.
In addition, gifts also are being made to organizations that serve the local communities where the company operates its three urban ski areas in the Midwest.
• $33,500 – Valley Outreach in Stillwater, Minn. The gift will allow the Food Shelf Family Snack Pack program to provide 8,571 weekend meals to families in the St. Croix Valley, who would otherwise not eat.
• $33,500 – North Star Reach in Ann Arbor, Mich. North Star Reach is a camp located on 105 acres in Pinckney, Mich., that serves children with chronic and life-threatening health challenges free of charge.
• $33,500 – Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha County, Wisc. The Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha County serves more than 12,291 local kids, kindergarten through 12th grade, with tutoring, after-school programs and leadership development.
The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com