K2 Donates $25k To SOS Outreach

The SIA Snow Show provided a space for the industry to highlight its efforts to introduce youth to the outdoors by holding the Active Youth Alliance (AYA) Summit in the Denver Convention Center lobby on day three of the show.  Twenty youth from SOS Outreach, an Avon-based youth nonprofit organization, came to the  show to be part of the summit, at which President and CEO of K2 Sports Anthony De Rocco  presented SOS Outreach with a $25,000 dollar check to show their support for programs that get youth outdoors.

Mary Jo Tarallo of National Learn to Ski and Snowboard month highlighted the vital importance of industry connection to the next generation of skiers and riders. “The more outreach we do now, the healthier the industry will be tomorrow” said Tarallo.

For more info on the AYA Summit and how the industry is doing its part to get kids involved, read below:

Students in SOS’s long-term University program spoke about how they have gotten more involved in their communities and developed leadership through SOS programs. It all starts with engagement in the outdoors. With all AYA members, the activity is just the hook to positive life impacts.

Speakers included SIA president David Ingemie, as well as President and CEO of K2 sports Anthony De Rocco. De Rocco recognized the unique ability of winter sports to turn kids into lifelong outdoor enthusiasts, and thanked SOS and AYA for the work they are doing in this effort.

The organizations in the group, working together under the name Active Youth Alliance (AYA), collectively reach almost 50,000 youth across more than 80 mountain resorts through various outdoor programs. Their mission is to get 1 million kids outdoors over the next 10 years, the estimated number of new skiers and snowboarders the sport needs to prevent a decline. Those represented in the Alliance include summer and winter programs and spans the entire nation. The goal of the Alliance is to work together for awareness, apply for grants and rally for industry support with their combined voices.

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