December 16, 2019
Press Release
for immediate release
BOZEMAN, MT – The Share Winter Foundation recently announced that Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) is among the 26 organizations that will receive grants to get more children onto the snow during 2019-20 winter season. Bridger Ski Foundation’s Nordic learn-to-ski programs will benefit from the generous grant.
BSF provides learn-to-ski, after-school cross country ski programs on the BSF-groomed trails at Sunset Hills, just a few blocks from Main Street, as well as a Saturday program at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. New this season, BSF is building a partnership with the YMCA to make skiing more accessible to kids in Bozeman, Belgrade, and the western Gallatin Valley. The YMCA will bus their program participants to Sunset Hills in Bozeman for cross-country ski instruction from BSF coaches. (They’ll also receive alpine ski instruction from the ski school at Bridger Bowl.) In addition, for several years now, BSF has worked with Sacajawea Middle School to groom a cross-country ski loop on school grounds so that skiing can be a part of their physical education curriculum.
While the grant covers BSF’s Nordic learn-to-ski programs, BSF also offers recreational and competitive ski programs in Nordic for all ages, as well as Freestyle, Freeskiing, Snowboarding and Alpine racing programs.
The Share Winter Foundation, Brooklyn, New York, identified this year’s recipients through a rigorous grant process to “find and vet the best winter sports programs in the United States.” Grantees are located throughout the U.S., in both rural and urban centers, ranging from schools to ski clubs, nonprofit ski areas and recreation departments. Once selected, programs typically receive three to five years of support from Share Winter Foundation to help the programs grow and increase efficiency and efficacy. Bozeman-based Big Sky Youth Empowerment Program was also named a grantee.
BSF Executive Director Evan Weiss says the grant will help offset program costs and keep BSF programs affordable. Currently, BSF is able to subsidize 42% of their programming costs through sponsorships, donations and grants. The Share Winter Grant will help cover program costs that are not covered by participant fees. BSF also plans to use the grant to help with scholarships, improve coaching salaries/retention, provide coaches’ education, and help fund the grooming of the cross country and winter trail venues. As part of the grant requirements, BSF will track demographics and metrics of the programs. “One of our goals here is to increase the economic and geographic diversity of BSF skiers as our club grows,” says Weiss.
The Share Winter Foundation encourages ongoing collaboration. BSF and the other grantees will engage in program monitoring, analysis, and thought leadership while receiving strategic support. With all of this valuable information, Share Winter is able to share best practices and industry insights with the winter sports industry.
In a press release, Share Winter’s CEO Constance Beverly noted, “At Share Winter Foundation, we believe that winter is for everyone. We are so pleased to be increasing the number of children engaging in snow sports education and that our grantee partners are bringing us closer to achieving our goal of 100,000 kids on the snow by 2028.”
BSF is proud to be a part of the #ShareWinter movement, diversifying and democratizing access to skiing.
Bridger Ski Foundation is a nonprofit ski club offering educational and competitive programs in Nordic, Freestyle, Freeskiing, and Alpine skiing. They also groom an incredible network covering 70+km of Community Nordic Trails in Bozeman. www.bridgerskifoundation.org
Share Winter Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 organization with the mission to improve the lives, health, and fitness of youth through winter sports. It is a funding organization that provides grants, thought leadership, mentorship, and community connection for programs, schools, rec centers and clubs throughout the United States that offer opportunities for children to learn to ski and snowboard. For more information, visit www.sharewinter.org.
