Jim Wall, Director of Services at Pats Peak, was awarded the YES Achievement Award at Youth Enrichment Services’s 5th Annual Black Diamond Gala in Boston on April 2, 2015. The YES Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the YES mission to better the lives of young people and foster life-long respect for self, others, and the environment.
Jim Wall has been with Pats Peak Ski Area in Henniker, NH since 1998. Among his many accomplishments, Jim is responsible for creating the Cultural Exchange & Diversity Program at Pats Peak and the first-ever Diversity Day – which is now in its 14th year at the mountain. Diversity Day takes place annually every Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and hundreds of inner-city youth from YES attend the annual celebration.
Jim is the recipient of 14 proclamations from every New Hampshire Governor since 2001. Jim has also been recognized by Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino and received 14 declarations from the New Hampshire Senate for his work related to diversity.
More than 1,000 Boston youth from YES experience skiing and snowboarding at Pats Peak every year because of Jim Wall’s leadership and commitment to urban youth. “Jim’s dedication to diversity and passion for sharing the outdoors with others is the perfect complement to YES’s enrichment programs for young people,” remarked Richard Ward, YES Board of Directors. “We cannot think of a better person to honor this award.”
Past YES Achievement Award recipients have included YES co-founder Mary Williams; long-time YES supporter, Peter Haffenreffer; YES Alumnae and Trustee Derek Fowler; and YES Alumnae and Advisory Council member Will Morales.