Vail Resorts Echo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Jess VanPernis, 530-562-3866, jvanpernis@vailresorts.com

VAIL RESORTS LAUNCHES VAIL RESORTS ECHO, THE COMPANY’S SUSTAINABLITY PROGRAM, AT NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE™ RESORT 
• Excellence in Education and the Truckee River Watershed Council each receive $10,000 Vail Resorts Echo grants
• VR Echo announces $20,000 Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort annual scholarship program

June 7, 2011, TRUCKEE, Calif. - Vail Resorts is launching Vail Resorts Echo, the Company’s corporate sustainability program, at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort by announcing two partner grants of $10,000 each, a new $20,000 scholarship program and the first Vail Resorts Echo Day in Truckee to  to engage employees in community volunteer projects..

Aimed at both protecting the beautiful natural resources that surrounds the resorts and helping build stronger communities where the Company’s employees live and work, Vail Resorts Echo encompasses three core efforts – environmental stewardship, charitable giving and community volunteer engagement. 

“Vail Resorts Echo gives Northstar-at-Tahoe a vehicle to share all that we do through our environmental programs, and a thoughtful way for the resort and our employees to make a tangible difference in the local community  - from building non-profit partnerships to creating programs that enable our employees to volunteer,” said Bill Rock, VP and chief operating officer of Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort. “It’s how what we do resonates and is amplified with our five stakeholders: our employees, shareholders, guests, communities and the environment.”

Building Partnerships for a stronger community
Last year, Vail Resorts contributed $6 million in cash and in-kind support to more than 150 local non-profits across their resort communities. Through Vail Resorts Echo, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will be able to build partnerships with local non-profits, incorporate local company leadership in local giving, and provide a clear process for contributions. To create a focused approach to its charitable giving in the Truckee-Tahoe community, Vail Resorts Echo has two defined areas of focus – youth and environment - for all contributions.  

To illustrate the commitment to the community through VR Echo, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is giving two grants to kick off the program.  Two organizations that exemplify the VR Echo mission by protecting the local environment and building strong classrooms for local kids - The Truckee Watershed Council and Excellence in Education - will each receive a $10,000 grant.

“Vail Resorts Echo will help us make thoughtful and meaningful contributions in the community that will make a big impact on important programs for North Lake Tahoe kids, and places like the Truckee River Watershed,” said Rock.

What is the contributions process?
Resort leadership, who are now part of the resort’s “Giving Council” will decide on cash grants and in-kind donations once a year. Grant applications for all requests – from silent auction donations to program support – will go out to the Truckee and King’s Beach communities in mid-July. The application will also be available on our website at www.VailResortsEcho.com.  The Giving Council will announce grants and in-kind donations in late September. Non-profits interested in learning more about the process should contact Nicky DeFord at ndeford@vailresorts.com or at 720-524-5020.

Northstar Echo Scholarship Program
In addition to the grant program, Vail Resorts Echo will include a scholarship program for employees and their dependants who are graduating from high school and pursuing higher education. Starting next spring, VR Echo will work with local schools on the application process. This year, the program will have $20,000 to provide in scholarships.  The Giving Council will determine criteria for scholarships this fall.

Connecting employees to the community
Vail Resorts employees are committed to making a tangible difference in their communities and Vail Resorts Echo will better enable every employee to volunteer their time. VR Echo at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will include community engagement programs from volunteer days to connection events that encourage employees to give back through local non-profits,, highlighted by Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort’s first Vail Resorts Echo Day.

• Vail Resorts Echo Day, Oct. 1, 2011: This company wide volunteer day features 10 events from Lake Tahoe to the Caribbean designed to get employees and their families working together on a local community project from trail building to school clean ups. Last year, 400 people joined us in the first VR Echo Day. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is looking for a project for approximately 80 volunteers. If your organization is interested in finding out more, please contact Nicky DeFord at ndeford@vailresorts.com.

Protecting and Preserving The Local Environment
Vail Resorts operates iconic resorts in some of the world’s greatest natural environments and in return is compelled to care for and preserve the local settings that surround them. The Company has made a commitment to resource conservation and forest health through programs that include energy reduction and a paperless initiative.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort has a robust environmental program that aligns with Vail Resorts Echo, including existing efforts to recycle and conserve natural resources, the development of its habitat management plan to balance resort land uses with natural resources in a variety of critical habitats, and preservation of open space in the Martis Valley. Through Vail Resorts Echo, Northstar® Resort is committed to continuing these efforts and adding programs that focus on local environmental needs.

VailResortsecho.com
Through its extensive environmental programs and partnerships with local non-profits, VR Echo focuses on forest and habitat restoration, resource conservation as well as initiatives that support healthy kids and communities where the Company operates resorts. To learn more about the Company’s environmental stewardship programs, how to apply for a VR Echo grant or ways to volunteer, go to www.vailresortsecho.com.

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