Youth Enrichment Services (YES) recently received an $80,000 grant from the Share Winter Foundation. The grant is being used to fund the Cross-Country Ski and YETTI (Youth Excel Through Tailored Instructions) programs. Both programs operate within YES’s Operation SnowSports program and serve Boston youth ages 7-12 from low-to-moderate income families.
The YES Cross-Country Ski program introduces youth to the sport of cross country skiing while building their strength and stamina through a progressively challenging youth development curriculum. The six-week program takes place at Weston Ski Track in Weston, MA. The Share Winter grant will enable an estimated 40 young people to participate in the Cross Country Ski Program this winter.
The YETTI (Youth Excel Through Tailored Instruction) gives youth the opportunity to develop and deepen their downhill skiing and snowboarding skills while growing in strength and stamina by engaging in four on-the-snow sessions throughout the season. In the YETTI program, youth have the same volunteer instructor and learn with the same classmates which allows them to build positive relationships with their volunteer instructor and develop friendships with peers learning at the same ability level. The Share Winter grant will help support an estimated 200 young people to participate in the program this winter.
Share Winter Foundation announced a national partnership with Alterra Mountain Company to expand their grantmaking and programmatic reach to all Alterra Mountain Company Locations. Alterra Mountain Company has committed nearly $4 million in cash and in-kind services to Share Winter Foundation in order to make a more diverse and inclusive winter sports community. Through this partnership, youth in the YETTI program with have the opportunity to experience skiing at Stratton Mountain Resort, an Alterra Mountain Company property, in Stratton, Vermont. YES youth will ski or ride at Stratton this winter as a result of this partnership.
Thank you to the Share Winter Foundation, Alterra, and Stratton Mountain for supporting YES!
About the Share Winter Foundation: As a grantmaking organization, Share Winter is working to improve the lives, health, and fitness of youth through winter sports. The foundation works closely with organizations across the country to build efficient, effective, and sustainable winter sports programs. Learn more at www.sharewinterfoundation.org.
About Alterra Mountain Company: Alterra Mountain Company is a family of 15 iconic year-round destinations, including the world’s largest heli-ski operation, offering the Ikon Pass, the new standard in season passes. The company owns and operates a range of recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage, retail and service businesses. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with destinations across the continent, Alterra Mountain Company is rooted in the spirit of the mountains and united by a passion for outdoor adventure. For more information, please visit www.alterramtnco.com.
About Stratton Mountain Resort: Stratton Mountain is a top Vermont ski and snowboard resort that offers 99 trails, 160+ acres of glades, 670+ acres of terrain, top-ranked terrain parks, the fastest fleet of lifts in the East, convenient lodging, slopeside Village, Training & Fitness Center, Spa and a full slate of winter and summer events and activities. Stratton is Southern Vermont’s tallest peak.