Park City Gives
Photography: Courtesy of The Canyons
One of the great things about Park City is the diversity of its population. In our public schools, the children of millionaires sit side by side with the children of impoverished immigrants. We share the same stores, the same parades, and the same community. This proximity puts a human face on need, especially when it comes to children.
Get To Know the Snow & Ice
Under the umbrella of the Youth WinterSports Alliance, Get to Know the Snow & Ice is now in its second year of providing access to winter sports for disadvantaged elementary school children. School counselors identify the children, who then write an essay explaining why he or she wants to “get to know the snow and ice.” Joel Fine, co-founder of the program along with Anne Fortney, says that it’s really tough to turn children away, but they get more applicants than they can sponsor.
The program provides everything the kids need to participate in the Friday after-school ski, snowboard, or ice skating programs, including transportation, gear, lessons, and passes. The first annual Fall Family Fest in October of 2006 raised money to sponsor more children, but private donations are always welcome. Contact Joel at 435.901.2171 or Anne at 435.962.8949.
Rosey’s Car Seats For Kids
In December of 2004, three local mothers witnessed a devastating car accident on Highway 224, where 3-year-old Rosey was nearly killed because she was not in a car seat. Spurred into action, Christy Young, Christina Sullivan, and Naomi Doyle donated their time and energy to create an organization that provides car seats for all children, and ensures that the seats are properly installed.
Since its founding in February of 2005, Rosey’s Car Seats has donated 175 car seats to children in Summit and Wasatch counties.
The founders believe “that a car seat is not a privilege, it is a necessity.” Now a 501c3 nonprofit, Rosey’s Car Seats can be reached at roseyscar seats@yahoo.com
Sub For Santa of Summit County
For 25 years, Sub For Santa has provided toys and warm winter clothing for needy children in Summit County. Spearheaded by dedicated locals, the group locates people in need through the schools, the health department and workforce services. Once the names have been collected, other organizations like the Rotary Club, churches and schools take the lists of needy children and set out to fulfill their wishes.
About 700 children in Summit County will have a warmer, more exciting holiday thanks to the many Sub For Santa volunteers, and the hundreds of community members who collect the toys and other items. For more information, contact Polly Reynolds at 435.649. 3775.
Learn to Ski or Snowboard
The Park City Rotary Club established the Learn To Ski program to ensure that Park City’s children can enjoy the snow sports that have made this town famous. Each year, the club collects skis, snowboards, goggles and ski clothes for 45 to 60 children from the middle schools and the high school. Then, thanks to donations from the local ski areas, the kids are given four free lessons and lift passes.
Rotarian Russell Wong says that most of the kids now prefer to snowboard. “Their peers are snowboarding,” he says, “especially the middle schoolers.” The schools identify the children in need. If you have ski or boarding gear to donate, you can contact Russell Wong at 435.649.9809.
Your comments may be edited for brevity and foul language.