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Mt. Hood Skibowl Partners with SOS Outreach

THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2008

PORTLAND, OR – SOS Outreach, a non-profit organization that works to build character and self-esteem in at-risk and underprivileged youth through snow sports instruction and an associated curriculum, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Mt. Hood Skibowl. Skibowl joins Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline as the third resort on Mt. Hood to donate lift tickets, equipment rentals, and snowboard instruction to Portland-area students participating in SOS Outreach programs during the 2007-2008 ski season. The combined dollar value of this critical support from all three resorts exceeds $35,000.

“Experiencing the mountain environment is especially valuable to youth who haven’t had the opportunity to get out and about and explore all of the options that surround them,” says Troy Fischer, Terrain Park and Assistant Operations Manager at Mt. Hood Skibowl. “Skibowl is very excited to provide that opportunity for all those involved in the SOS program and to watch them grow and learn new skills and life lessons with their peers,” Fischer adds.

“Skibowl provides the perfect atmosphere to escape from the normal daily routine and allows visitors to enjoy the serenity and simplicity of the mountains,” says Malee Lucas, National Program Coordinator for SOS Outreach. “Our work would not be possible without the generous participation of our ski area partners,” Lucas adds.

Founded in Colorado 14 years ago, SOS Outreach continues to grow and is now entering its eighth year of operation in Oregon. During that time, more than 350 young Oregonians from the metro area have participated in the popular SOS Outreach ‘Learn to Ride’ program, which features five days of professional instruction, lift tickets, and all necessary gear. ‘Learn to Ride’ students also complete an associated curriculum that focuses on five core values: courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, and compassion.

This season alone, more than 45 students from metro-area schools, including Portland Youth Builders, Mt. Scott Learning Centers, and Reynolds Learning Academy, will join SOS Outreach on Mt. Hood. For many of these students, this is the first time they have had the opportunity to try a snow sport, and the experience can be truly life changing – both on the hill and in everyday life. In fact, several ‘Learn to Ride’ graduates from the Portland area are now continuing to work with SOS Outreach through its ‘University’ program, which includes a four-year continuing curriculum and also incorporates community service and life skill workshops.

Megan Barrett, a teacher at Mt. Scott Learning Centers, speaks to the positive impact she has observed during the school’s three-year partnership with SOS Outreach. “SOS encourages my students to support one another, and also teaches them self-reliance and discipline. It's incredible to watch students go from worry and doubt to happiness and pride when they make it down the hill for the first time without falling. At the end of the five days, there is a bond between the kids and their teachers that lasts far beyond the mountain. Through SOS, for the first time in their lives, many of these kids are experiencing the pride and confidence that come from personal success. Through SOS, these kids learn that they are the type of people who are capable of anything.”

About SOS Outreach
SOS Outreach, formerly Snowboard Outreach Society, is a non-profit organization that builds character and self-esteem in at-risk and underprivileged youth through snow sports. Headquartered in Colorado’s Vail Valley, SOS Outreach offers multi-day snowboarding and skiing programs at 30 resorts in eight states. More than 2,500 kids will participate in SOS programs during winter 2007-2008 – the organization’s 14th year.

In Oregon, SOS Outreach is entering its eighth year. During winter 2007-2008, SOS is offering Portland-based Learn To Ride (LTR) and University snowboarding programs on Mt. Hood – at Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood Skibowl and Timberline resorts. SOS also offers programs in Central Oregon – at Hoodoo Mountain Resort and Willamette Pass.

For more information about SOS Outreach and its range of programs, visit www.sosoutreach.org.

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