Park City Community Foundation’s Youth United Program awards over $1.3M in scholarships since 2016

Youth United gives Summit County children a sense of belonging through sports and activities. Photo: Omar Prestwich

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Community Foundation (PCCF) announced on Aug. 15 that its Youth United program has provided $1,306,427 to partner organizations for scholarships since 2016. Formerly known as Solomon Fund and RISE Fund, Youth United is the unified program that offers school-age children and teens in Park City and Summit County access to sports, recreation, clubs, camps, and extracurricular activities.

The goal of Youth United is to foster a sense of belonging among local youth and strengthen connections between community members.

“All children should feel like they belong, and we are now focusing on raising the next million for this much-needed cause,” said Diego Zegarra, vice president of equity & impact at PCCF. “We are very proud of the achievements we’ve made in partnership with our partner organizations and donors to build a more equitable Park City and Summit County, and we expect continued need and growth for this program.”

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Youth United partners with more than 30 local organizations and businesses as well as Park City High School’s teams and clubs. Partner organizations provide the activities and believe in making access to their programs more equitable. 

Youth United kids can participate in everything from soccer, skiing, boxing, cheerleading, and mountain biking, to dance, theater, and debate.

The Youth United program’s community partnership approach offers reduced-cost extracurriculars for kids, regardless of their financial circumstances or cultural background. Youth United is for Latino kids, BIPOC kids, and kids of any background who are navigating any financial constraints. Participants receive scholarships and equipment, and kids from all backgrounds become friends and feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging.

Youth United improves outcomes for every local student, particularly Latino and bilingual students who have not had access to opportunities they want to try. 

To date, Youth United has successfully grown Latino student participation in sports and recreation up to 18%, which more accurately reflects local Park City demographics.

The public is invited to attend Youth United’s upcoming Super Sunday event on Aug. 25, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Legacy Lodge, Park City Mountain Resort. The event helps support the program, highlights its impact, and includes partners and participants. Local Latino families will be there signing up their kids for fall and winter sports and activities and accessing community resources like healthcare, legal support, and housing resources.

Mingle, enjoy live music and refreshments, and consider a gift to Youth United.