- Copper Mountain will partner with the Lake County Community Fund for another four years after originally providing a $200,000 match donation in 2019
- The renewed $200,000 match donation will allocate support to local and youth-oriented non-profit organizations in the Lake County region
Copper Mountain, Colorado – September 12, 2023 – Copper Mountain Resort and the Lake County Community Fund (LCCF) announced today the renewal of a four-year $400,000 endowment campaign, the Campaign for Lake County. After launching the campaign in 2019, the partnership has been extended for an additional four years. Starting in 2024, the resort will provide a challenge gift that will match up to $200,000, to secure a strong, sustainable future for residents of the greater Lake County communities. A portion of the gift will support the Lake County Community Fund endowment, a permanent fund to support sustainability for the Lake County community. $100,000 will also be allocated to support youth-oriented nonprofit organizations dedicated to outdoor adventure education and lifelong alpine sports development, as well as environmental causes, through the Community Fund’s grant-making program.
Copper’s partnership with the Lake County Community Fund is part of a broader corporate social responsibility platform established by POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co., known as Play Forever, which is the resort’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting its community.
Lake County is an integral part of the regional Colorado community; without a thriving and participatory Lake County, Summit and Eagle County economies cannot continue to grow and develop as they do now. More than 67 percent of the Lake County workforce are employed in Summit and Eagle Counties. Specific to Copper Mountain, more than 200 of Copper Mountain’s 1,500 winter season employees are
residents of Lake County.
“We are thrilled to extend our financial commitment to the Lake County Community Fund for another four years,” said Dustin Lyman, president and general manager of Copper Mountain Resort. “Many of our own employees call Lake County home and we are committed to doing our part to ensure its vitality and long-term success. Over the past four years we have been impressed with the engagement of the LCCF
leadership and the community’s commitment to enhancing outdoor education and accessibility, reflecting our own core values at Copper.”
The initial four-year campaign that launched in 2019 raised $780,696 thanks to 535 contributions from Lake County donors. During the past four years, 21 Copper Mountain grants totaling $100,000 have been awarded to Lake County nonprofit organizations focusing on outdoor education and environmental causes including Get Outdoors Leadville!, the Cloud City Conservation Center and the Greater Arkansas
River Nature Association, among others. The campaign also added $200,000 to the LCCF endowment fund over four years through Copper’s initial donation and subsequent annual matches from LCCF.
“We are extremely honored for the renewal of this transformative gift from Copper Mountain,” said Melissa Kendrick, LCCF board president. “Copper’s commitment to supporting and promoting its broader community is evidenced not only by this wonderful example of corporate philanthropy, but also by the numerous efforts they have underway at Copper, from new employee housing to their ongoing partnership with Colorado Mountain College and other non-profits in Summit and Lake counties. Through the Campaign for Lake County, we hope to inspire others around a common cause to support a thriving community in Lake County.”
The Lake County Community Fund serves 7,327 community members in Lake County by providing a source of nonprofit funds to support local programs, projects and assets. Individuals who wish to give to a charity that supports the Lake County community can contribute to the fund and know their donation is going to a trusted source. Leadville and Twin Lakes nonprofits can apply for grants through the Fund to
further their missions which includes the arts, environment, education, youth, health, community development, and more.
Criteria for LCCF grants will be announced before Spring 2024, when Leadville and Twin Lakes nonprofits can apply for grants to further their important missions. Learn more about Copper Mountain’s Play Forever initiatives at CopperColorado.com. Learn more about the Lake County Community Fund at lakecountycommunityfund.org.
Contacts:
Copper Mountain Resort
Name: Olivia Butrymovich, Communications Coordinator
Phone: 970-368-0551, obutrymovich@coppercolorado.com
Lake County Community Fund
Name: John McMurtry, LCCF Executive Director
Phone: 717-286-3396, director@lakecountycommunityfund.org
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About Copper Mountain:
Located just 75 miles west of Denver, Colo., Copper Mountain, the Athlete’s Mountain, operates on National Forest Land and offers an experience that inspires adventure, elevates ambition and empowers progression. During the winter, Copper’s world class naturally divided terrain provides skiers and riders access to over 2,500 acres of high alpine adventure that’s designed to challenge, inspire and empower every type of athlete. Each summer, the mountain transforms into a progression playground for hikers, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Three centralized pedestrian villages provide a vibrant atmosphere complete with slope-side lodging, dining, shopping and activities. Copper Mountain is home to Woodward Copper and the Stifel U.S. Ski Team Speed Center which facilitates year-round training for every level of athlete. Copper is the Official Training Center for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes leading up to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Copper Mountain is part of the POWDR Adventure Lifestyle Co. portfolio, and an Ikon Pass partner. POWDR is a family-owned adventure lifestyle company (TM) that believes there is nothing better for your soul than to spend time with the people you love, doing the things you love.
About Lake County Community Fund:
The Lake County Community Fund (LCCF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit community organization that was established in 2016 to create a sustainable funding source to accomplish collective goals for the Lake County community. The LCCF helps build ongoing funding and a sustainable future for the extraordinary community of Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. Since 2017, the Lake County Community Fund has awarded 118 grants totaling more than $369,000 to Lake County nonprofit organizations.
