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Vail Resorts 360 and National Forest Foundation Distribute Funds for Conservation Projects on White River National Forest

Vail Resorts 360 and National Forest Foundation give more than $311,476 for local conservation projects during the Winter 2009-2010 season

BROOMFIELD, Colo.—May 26, 2009—Vail Resorts 360 and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) have announced the third annual round of funding for conservation projects as result of their fundraising partnership that began in September 2006. Twelve local nonprofit organizations will receive $311,476 to implement conservation projects on Colorado’s White River National Forest where Vail Resorts operates Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts. Since the program’s inception, Vail Resorts and the National Forest Foundation have granted more than $1.2 million to community organization focused on improving trails, wildlife habitat, watersheds and overall forest health.
Vail Resorts’ partnership with the National Forest Foundation is part of the Company’s new Vail Resorts 360 program. The program was launched in 2008 in an effort to create more focused charitable giving and make a larger contribution to the local community. Vail Resorts 360 is made up of three very important company initiatives: charitable giving, employee engagement in local communities, and environmental stewardship programs.
 
To help support the NFF Ski Conservation Fund, Vail Resorts offers its guests the opportunity to contribute to the fund when they purchase ski passes, lift tickets and hotel rooms. Each dollar contributed results in $1.50 awarded for on-the-ground conservation funding through the National Forest Foundation. Award recipients stretch this further with additional contributions resulting in more than $4 in conservation benefit for every dollar contributed by Vail Resorts guests.
Projects were selected from proposals submitted by local community-based organizations that implement action-oriented on-the ground projects that engage the public in addressing pressing conservation needs on the White River National Forest. Each directly improves the condition of the forest in a measurable manner and directly involves and benefits surrounding communities.

The following organizations and projects were selected to receive funding:

  • Rocky Mountain Youth Corps for rehabilitation and trail maintenance in Summit and Eagle counties.
  • Eagle County Youth Conservation Corps to implement three wildlife habitat improvement and recreation enhancement projects in Eagle County.
  • Friends of the Dillon Ranger District for tree-planting, trail restoration and maintenance on popular Summit County trails including Wheeler Lakes, Soda Creek, Baker’s Tank Trail and Peak Trail.
  • Northwest Colorado Council of Governments to spearhead a large pine beetle mitigation project around National Forest campgrounds and parking areas in Summit and Eagle counties.
  • Student Conservation Association for wilderness trail maintenance, sign and trailhead work and backcountry campsite rehabilitation in Eagle County, including East and Middle Lake Creek trails outside of Edwards, Gore Creek, Bighorn and Booth Creek Trails in Vail.
  • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado for construction of trails, signage and trail maintenance in Summit County including the Blue River Wildlife Trail, the Peak’s Trail, and Turk’s Trail.
  • Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness for removal of noxious weeds to benefit overall health of forest in both Eagle and Summit counties.
  • Continental Divide Trail Alliance for their continued construction of the Continental Divide Trail near Glacier Peak.
  • Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers for trail reconstruction and maintenance projects in Pitkin County including Hunter Creek, Government Trail, Perham Creek Trail, and Iowa Trail.
  • Eagle River Watershed Council for Piney River habitat enhancement including development of compliant campsites, trash removal and improved fish habitat.
  • John J. Hill Memorial Fund for litter and invasive weed removal in Summit County as well as trail maintenance and removal of barbed wire fence to improve wildlife habitat.
  • Colorado Fourteeners Initiative to focus on trail building and restoration on the very popular Quandary Peak and Mt. of the Holy Cross.
For more information about Vail Resorts 360 and National Forest Foundation program, please go to www.snow.com

About National Forest Foundation
Founded by Congress in 1991, the National Forest Foundation works to conserve, restore and enhance America’s 193-million-acreNational Forest System. Through community-based strategies and public-private partnerships, the NFF enhances wildlife habitat, revitalizes wildfire-damaged landscapes, restores watersheds, and improves recreational resources for the benefit of all Americans. The NFF’s Friends of the Forest® program helps build awareness of the issues and values surrounding our National Forests through outreach and volunteer opportunities. To learn more, visit us at

www.nationalforests.org

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading of mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties at the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

Jeff Olson, National Forest Foundation, (406) 542-2805, Ext. 17 or jolson@nationalforests.org

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