2022 - 2023 Far West Skier's Guide - 40

You Can Play
an Important
Role in
Sustaining
Snowsports!
by Jane Wyckoff
Past President, FWSA
As winter sportsports enthusiasts, we all
look back on the memories we cherish of our
skiing and boarding adventures - the outdoors,
the peace and tranquility of the mountains, the
places we traveled, and especially the time
spent with family and friends. We took our
children and perhaps now even our grandchildren,
to the mountains where they learned
how to ski and board. We have our memorabilia,
such as photo albums, lift tickets, pins
from resorts both in the US and international
destinations, and racing medals or trophies.
Take a moment and reflect, and think
about the future of snowsports, and how you
could contribute to its sustainability.
What
would be your area of interest - youth programs,
junior racing scholarships, adaptive and
rehabilitative programs, ski heritage, or diversity
on the slopes?
Following are a few snowsports foundations
that are 501(c)(3) non-profit corporations,
and have specific missions dedicated to
sustaining snowsports. All have well organized
programs, and depend on individual donations,
partnerships, community support, and
grants to fund them. There are also other very
worthy foundations, that are not mentioned
here. Donations to these foundations are tax
deductible per government regulations.
Far West Ski Foundation
" It is time to give back to the sport we love. "
Alan Christian, President
The Far West Ski Foundation (FWSF)
was founded in 1964, aimed exclusively at preparing
ski racers from California and Nevada
for the 1968 Olympics and further international
competition. In 2009, the scope of the
FWSF was expanded with approval by the
IRS, followed by the California Secretary of
State in 2010. Proceeds from Foundation
fundraising are directed to one of several mission
areas. The FWSF has four missions:
Building for the Future, Rehabilitation and
Renewal, Sustaining Snowsports, and Preserving
the Legacy. It is still staffed by volunteers,
with a collective several centuries of
volunteer experience in: club, council, regional
and national leadership; racing, both recreational
as well as sanctioned; National Ski Patrol
(NSP), and the United States Adaptive
Recreation Center (USARC).
Their Key Programs include:
Athletic Scholarship Program - Now
in its 18th year, the total of scholarships
awarded since the program's inception is over
$184,000 to 131 different recipients. The program
provides financial assistance to junior
ski racers throughout the western United
States where the Far West Ski Association, its
partner organization, has a presence, currently
12 western states. Applicants must be junior
alpine ski racers affiliated with the United
States Ski and Snowboard (USSA). Scholarships
are awarded based on financial need,
4O Far West Skier's Guide 2O22 - 2O23
Members of The Unrecables enjoy a club trip to Mammoth Mountain. One of the four missions
of the Far West Ski Foundation is Rehabilitation and Renewal, and it supports programs with
on-snow rehabilitative techniques. photo by Dr. John Gray, The Unrecables
Luca Robillard,
from Truckee,
California, is
one of the many
recipients of the
Athletic
Scholarship
Program
supported by the
Far West Ski
Foundation.
He races for the
Sugar Bowl
Race Team.
photo provided by
David Krupp
athletic performance, academic achievement,
and community service.
Adaptive Programs - The FWSF supports
adaptive snowsports programs as a way
to enhance restoration to vigor from injury or
to animate the physically challenged. It maintains
relationships with centers within its territory
that practice on-snow rehabilitative
techniques.
Of special interest are the programs
that involve active duty service persons
or veterans. The Foundation has granted
funds to a variety of adaptive programs, including
the Vail Veterans Program, Snowbasin
Adaptive Sports Education, Dream Adaptive
Recreation, Oregon Adaptive Sports, Adaptive
Sports Center, Mammoth Adaptive Sports,
Sun Peaks Adaptive Sports, Challenge Alaska
Adaptive Ski School, Jimmie Heuga Center
(Can Do MS), High Fives Foundation, Big
White Ski & Board School, Disabled Sports
Eastern Sierra, and Challenge Aspen.

2022 - 2023 Far West Skier's Guide

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