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VAIL, Colorado — Vail Resorts is doing something it normally doesn't do — revealing the amount of money it's giving as a grant to the Youth Foundation — in order to excite the community and get support.
The company announced that it would match donations to the Youth Foundation's 20.10 for Kids Campaign up to $25,000, something Vail Resorts spokeswoman Nicky DeFord said is unprecedented.
“This is a first for us to do a matching grant of this size for a local organization,” DeFord said. “Because this is a matching grant, it's important to announce the amount.”
The company gives about $5 million each year to charitable organizations, DeFord said, but it usually stays tight-lipped on how much it gives to whom. The giving to the Youth Foundation is part of the company's Echo program, its charitable giving arm.
The Youth Foundation is thrilled to have the grant as a tool to encourage donations, said Katie Santambrogio, Youth Foundation spokeswoman. Santambrogio said the goal is to get 2,010 pledges of $20.10 per month for one year.
“It's a lofty goal — we're going to be excited if we get halfway there,” Santambrogio said.
The relationship between Vail Resorts and the Youth Foundation isn't new, but the new initiative is something both sides hope will get people excited about donating, even in a sluggish economy.
The money raised will go toward the Youth Foundation's after-school programs — programs that serve more than 900 kids in the valley every day, Santambrogio said.
So far the Foundation and Echo are giving presentations to various groups and businesses to help solicit donations. The Youth Foundation is also promoting the campaign on its Web site and in local schools.
DeFord said Vail Resorts' goal in the campaign is to try to stretch its money as far as it can — the grant should encourage more giving because donations are essentially twice as much because of the match, she said.
To donate online, visit theyouthfoundation.org.
Community Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com.
The company announced that it would match donations to the Youth Foundation's 20.10 for Kids Campaign up to $25,000, something Vail Resorts spokeswoman Nicky DeFord said is unprecedented.
“This is a first for us to do a matching grant of this size for a local organization,” DeFord said. “Because this is a matching grant, it's important to announce the amount.”
The company gives about $5 million each year to charitable organizations, DeFord said, but it usually stays tight-lipped on how much it gives to whom. The giving to the Youth Foundation is part of the company's Echo program, its charitable giving arm.
The Youth Foundation is thrilled to have the grant as a tool to encourage donations, said Katie Santambrogio, Youth Foundation spokeswoman. Santambrogio said the goal is to get 2,010 pledges of $20.10 per month for one year.
“It's a lofty goal — we're going to be excited if we get halfway there,” Santambrogio said.
The relationship between Vail Resorts and the Youth Foundation isn't new, but the new initiative is something both sides hope will get people excited about donating, even in a sluggish economy.
The money raised will go toward the Youth Foundation's after-school programs — programs that serve more than 900 kids in the valley every day, Santambrogio said.
So far the Foundation and Echo are giving presentations to various groups and businesses to help solicit donations. The Youth Foundation is also promoting the campaign on its Web site and in local schools.
DeFord said Vail Resorts' goal in the campaign is to try to stretch its money as far as it can — the grant should encourage more giving because donations are essentially twice as much because of the match, she said.
To donate online, visit theyouthfoundation.org.
Community Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com.
