For many of us, we were attracted to Teton Valley for all the recreation the mountains provide. This has built a rich culture within our community centered around skiing and snowboarding. The Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation (TVSEF) wants to ensure that all children of Teton Valley are able to participate fully in these activities, whether it be alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freeriding, or snowboarding. TVSEF helps young athletes meet their individual potential for excellence through education and opportunity for competition by offering affordable ski and snowboard programs.
This past winter the season looked a bit different; with adjustments in programming and protocols and fewer competitions being hosted. Yet, in the face of all of these challenges, the love of being outside, recreating with friends, and tearing up the slopes or trails was at an all-time high for all TVSEF athletes. In training, there were countless stories of how much athletes improved and grew throughout the season. At competitions, TVSEF saw athletes across all disciplines placing consistently high+. None of this could have been possible without the community support that we received from our Tin Cup donation in 2020. It was the largest donation we had received to date, and it really helped to set us up for success as we headed into a season with some uncertainty.
As we look toward Tin Cup 2021, one thing that came to light this past season was an increased need in scholarship funds. We awarded an additional $5,000 in scholarships in 2020 over the previous year. One in every seven TVSEF athletes receive a scholarship award to help offset program fees. Currently, TVSEF scholarship awards only cover up to 50% of program fees. The scholarship also does not take into account the costs of trail passes, lift tickets, equipment, registration fees for competitions, travel, and all of the other necessary costs that come with skiing and snowboarding. While we hope to increase the general scholarship pool for program fees, TVSEF would also like to expand our scholarship funds to help to cover some of those additional costs and provide more scholarship funds beyond the 50% mark we currently have to greater assist families who really need it.
Please join me in sharing the joy of winter sports to all youth in Teton Valley by making a donation to the Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation during the 2021 Tin Cup Challenge, when your gift has the biggest impact. Your donation ensures that all Teton Valley youth have the same access to quality programs and activities that can last a lifetime!
