Own one of 30 retiring Red Pine Gondola cabins by supporting the Early Childhood Alliance

The Red Pine Gondola at Park City Mountain. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah – The Park City Community Foundation is holding a one of a kind fundraiser to support Early Childhood Education & Care. This summer, Park City Mountain is upgrading the Red Pine Gondola experience with all-new cabins. Through a unique partnership with the PCCF, Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts Epic Promise you can purchase a retiring gondola cabin and support a critical issue in our community.

Here’s how you can get a gondola:

1. Buy it now: Ensure that you receive a gondola cabin and help our littlest Parkites by donating to our local early care and education system that supports families at the heart of our community. The recommended donation is $25,000, and brings stability to families, children, and workers. Keep the gondola cabin for yourself or give it to a local nonprofit if you don’t have space. MAKE A GIFT » 
2. Auctions: Participate in our silent auction, or in the live auction at our party on June 23. PLACE A BID » 
3. Drawing: Enter the opportunity drawing to win a gondola cabin! Donate $100 for 1 ticket or $500 for 10. The odds are great, and winners will be announced on June 23! ENTER TO WIN » 

Gondola cabins can be delivered within 25 miles of Park City Mountain in late June. All cabins are available as-is and number selection is not available. Details about delivery and pick-up will be coming soon. Donors will be required to agree to Terms & Conditions.

Questions? Please contact Alexis Brown at alexis@parkcitycf.org

Why is this funding to support Early Childhood Education & Care so urgent?

A COVID 19 era policy created the Office of Child Care’s Stabilization Grants. These grants are intended for providers facing financial burdens due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will assist in stabilizing the child care sector, and supporting the needs of children, parents and the child care workforce.

These funds will be going away this fall and without these federal stabilization funds, over 40% of providers in Utah reported that their programs would have shut down. 68.4% of programs will have to raise their already high tuition to say afloat, while 36.7% will have to cut wages.

Of survey respondents in Summit County, 90% of families report it is extremely or somewhat difficult to find high-quality, affordable childcare in our community. Long wait-lists make the process even more taxing. An estimated additional 544 spots are needed to fully serve all children under the age of two in Summit County.

As of 2022, the cost to send an infant to a care facility in Utah ($14,064 a year) is more than tuition and fees for in-state residents to attend the University of Utah ($9,002 a year).

The Park City Community Foundation is working to prevent a child care catastrophe in our community. While encouraging local government and policy makers to invest in our early care and education system that supports families and is the heart of our community’s economy. Support from the local community through this unique fundraising opportunity is very much needed to make up the financial cliff many of these organization are facing.