Youth Enrichment Services received a grant for its YETTI program.
The Killington World Cup Foundation (KWCF) recently awarded 21 grants totaling $228,000 to Northeast region nonprofits in eight states through a competitive grant opportunity. Combined with matching funds and multi-year grant commitments, the KWCF’s effort will contribute more than $400,000 in resources to winter sports infrastructure in the region. These grants were made possible as a result of the 2019 HomeLight Killington Cup event.
The KWCF grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000. All of the grant recipients are registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or have a fiscal sponsor. Awarded projects include trail expansion and equipment for various racing venues in New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, District of Columbia and North Carolina; participation scholarships for adaptive, Nordic and Alpine programs in Maine; Vermont and Massachusetts; a Learn to Ski program in Vermont and Maine; and, for the first time, two ski jumping foundations. Grants were awarded and funding began Sept. 15. All awarded projects hope to begin during the 2020 calendar year, but may be delayed with Covid-19 restrictions.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generous financial support from the Killington World Cup Foundation. This grant will enable Youth Enrichment Services and New England Disabled Sports to serve an estimated 100 youth with disabilities this winter in our Adaptive YETTI (Youth Excel Through Tailored Instruction) Program,” said Bryan Van Dorpe, executive director of Youth Enrichment Services. “Youth with a variety of disabilities will have the opportunity to participate in this specialized alpine skiing/snowboarding program. Two years ago, KWCF provided initial funding for what was a pilot adaptive ski/snowboard program. I am thrilled to report that the program, as well as our partnership with NEDS, has flourished thanks to the vision and support of the foundation!”
Mountain Alliance App Development Program is an affordable and successful means to introduce teens to snow sports who would most likely never have the opportunity. “Students appreciated having the opportunity to visit Appalachian Ski Mountain multiple times. They felt like they were able to more effectively build on their skills and become more comfortable on the mountain. Being able to visit several times across a few weeks gave students something to look forward to, allowed them time to reflect on their skills, and helped them grow more quickly than just attending a single night event. This program helped students realize their love of skiing and gave them more confidence to go out on their own and continue to pursue the sport,” said Rachel Whitmer, Coordinator, Mountain Alliance.
“When making the decision to host the World Cup, one of the objectives was to give back to the athletic community in the area,” said Herwig Demshar, senior vice president of international business development at POWDR, Killington Resort’s parent company. “This partnership has proven an effective way to give directly to supporting young, aspiring skiers and snowboarders who are the future competitors and supporters of the sport.”
The 2020 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup races will remain in Europe through early December following a recent decision made jointly by the International Ski Federation, National Ski Associations and local organizing committees in Canada and the U.S. Killington Resort, POWDR, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard have already committed to bringing FIS Alpine World Cup racing back to Killington Resort for the 2021/22 Olympic qualification season.
A list of all of 2020’s grant recipients as well as details for organizations interested in applying for future KWCF grants can be found at kwcfgivesback.org.
