The Killington World Cup Foundation (KWCF) awarded 33 grants totaling $330,000 to Northeast area nonprofits in eight states, with five of this year’s grantees being new to KWCF. KWCF also donated $170,000 to support athlete housing at the Killington Cup. These grants were made possible as a result of the 2023 Stifel Killington Cup. \
In the last four years KWCF has donated more than $2 million in incremental resources to the winter sports infrastructure and youth snow sport programs in the region.
The Killington World Cup Foundation grants ranged from $1,500 to $25,000. All of the grant recipients are registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or have a fiscal sponsor. Awarded projects included: supporting and expanding youth community snowsport programs in rural North Carolina, funding for the Nordic Rocks program enabling more youth to experience Nordic skiing, helping to grow the program for the Share Winter/Association of Africans living in Vermont, and providing trail expansion and equipment for Nordic, Adaptive, Alpine and Snowboarding youth organizations. Grants were awarded June 15, 2024 and funding begins Sept. 15, 2024.
“The KWCF is critical to not only the success of the Killington World Cup events each year, but it has changed the lives of so many young ski racers across the Northeast with its goal of benefitting local and regional youth development programs. KWCF continues to provide opportunity and critical help to clubs to help them support the dreams of their athletes,” stated Doug Lewis, a former World Cup alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team and two-time Olympian in 1984 and 1988 from Vermont. He has been an announcer at the Killington Cup since its inception.
“We appreciate so much the Committee’s support and recognition of YES’s work in making snowsports an accessible and comfortable destination for Boston youth!” said Bryan Van Thorpe, executive director, Youth Enrichment Services (YES).
Grant applications were reviewed by a committee that included: Tiger Shaw, CEO Wasatch Peaks Ranch Club; Grace Macomber Bird, volunteer, Kelly Brush Foundation; Harry Ryan, Facey, Goss & McPhee, P.C.; John Casella, chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Management; Kenneth Graham, founder and chairman of Inverness Graham and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors; and Phill Gross, managing director, Adage Capital Management and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors.
A list of all of 2023’s grant recipients as well as details for organizations interested in applying for future KWCF grants can be found at kwcfgivesback.org.