The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Company’s climate change commitments also making progress
[ By Kendra Walker ]
During the 2019/20 season, local Gunnison Valley organizations received grant funding from Vail Resorts for emergency relief, COVID-19 relief and educational scholarships. The donations were made through Vail’s EpicPromise annual grant cycle in an effort to positively impact its resort communities.
In Crested Butte, a total of $596,532 in cash and in-kind contributions was donated to the following organizations: Adaptive Sports Center, Crested Butte Nordic Council, Crested Butte Avalanche Center, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, Crested Butte Mountain Educational Radio, Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation, GO Initiative, Gunnison County Food Pantry, Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project, Gunnison Hindsdale Youth Services, Gunnison Trails, Living Journeys, Mountain High Music Festival, Rocky Mountain Biological Lab and Tough Enough to Wear Pink.
CBMR did not hold an Opening Day Community Giving Celebration for the 2020/21 season in order to focus efforts on mountain operations and terrain, and to limit gatherings that don’t allow for physical distancing.
Across Vail communities, more than 300 non-profit partners received donations through cash and in-kind contributions totaling $18.3 million.
“Despite this year’s unexpected challenges due to COVID-19, our values have not wavered,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts in a press release. “That includes Do Good, our commitment to preserving the environment and supporting our employees and the communities in which we operate.”
Vail also recently announced that is has achieved its 50 percent waste diversion goal by reducing landfill waste and increasing composting and recycling, almost a year ahead of schedule. This is part of the company’s Commitment to Zero goal to achieve a zero net operating footprint by 2030.
Additionally, Vail Resorts plans to be 93 percent powered by renewable electricity across its resorts by 2023, due largely to its Plum Creek Wind and Elektron Solar renewable energy projects. Vail is on course to hit its goal to be 100 percent powered by renewable electricity by 2030.
