Headline News
Vail Resorts and National Forest Foundation Distribute First Round of Conservation Funds
Vail Resorts, Inc., and the National Forest Foundation have announced the first round of conservation projects to receive funds as result of their fundraising partnership that began in September 2006. Seven non-profit organizations will receive a share of $225,815 to begin conservation projects on Colorado's White River National Forest where Vail Resorts operates Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts.
The National Forest Foundation solicited project proposals from local non-Federal, community-based and other non-profit organizations. Priority was given to action-oriented collaborative projects that pro-actively addressed conservation issues on the White River National Forest, such as wildlife habitat improvement, recreation and stream restoration. Other proposal criteria included a description of how each project will improve the condition of the forest in a measurable, hands-on way as well as a measure of the involvement and benefits to surrounding communities.
The following organizations and projects were selected to receive
funding:
• Wilderness Volunteers, Gore Range Trail and Maroon-Snowmass Trail Wilderness Service Trips
• Friends of the Eagle Nest Wilderness, Wilderness Ecosystem Improvement Project
• Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV), RFOV 2007 Trail Projects
• Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), 2007 VOC Summit County Projects
• Eagle County Youth Conservation Corps, Eagle County Youth Conservation Corps-Project Season 2007
• Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, 2007 White River Fourteeners Project
• Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Youth Corps Conservation Project
"We view the success of our program as an indication of the level of commitment our guests have to protecting the spectacular National Forests, in which we operate our resorts," said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "We want to offer them our sincerest thanks for helping in this critical effort."
Vail Resorts continues to offer guests at its five mountain resorts the opportunity to participate in this special fundraising effort by contributing $1 on season passes, $1 on online lift ticket transactions, and $1 per room night at its Colorado-based lodging properties. Each dollar raised results in $1.50 in on-the-ground conservation funding through the National Forest Foundation. Vail Resorts expects to raise up to $600,000 (including the matching funds), three to four times more than the National Forest Foundation's next-largest fundraising program of this kind. (For our original news story, see Vail Resorts and National Forest Foundation Partner to Raise Conservation Funds.)
"We are thrilled about the positive impact of this partnership and these projects on the National Forest," said Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Rick Cables. "We have had a long-standing and positive relationship with the ski industry in Colorado, and Vail's willingness to partner with us and the National Forest Foundation is another innovative step. This kind of investment made by neighbors and visitors shows the value that people place on National Forests as sources of clean water, habitats for native plants and animals, and special places to renew the spirit."
The National Forest Foundation is a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service. The National Forest Foundation helps the Forest Service improve the health of the 192-million-acre national forest system, and takes action to bring about solutions.
Building an informed, committed and active community of concerned citizens for the national forest system is an important National Forest Foundation goal. All Americans are encouraged to become Friends of the Forest™ through giving, volunteering and enjoying unforgettable outdoor experiences.
For more information about Vail Resorts, visit www.snow.com. For information about the National Forest Foundation, visit www.natlforests.org. For information about Friends of the Forest™, visit www.becomeafriend.org.