Park City Community Foundation distributes $12.5 million, honors community leaders

Jim Gaddis and Heather Ferguson-Sims were honored with the 2025 Trisha J. Worthington Community Service Award by Park City Community Foundation during its annual Grants Celebration at Deer Valley Resort. Photo: Park City Community Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Community Foundation announced this week that it brought $12.5 million into greater Park City and Summit County during its last fiscal year, adding to a cumulative impact of $82 million since its founding in 2007.

The announcement came during the foundation’s annual Grants Celebration, held at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge, where more than 200 nonprofit representatives and donors gathered. The foundation also distributed $468,000 in its latest round of Community Fund grants to 65 local nonprofits.

“At the Community Foundation, we believe that solving our community’s greatest challenges starts with a strong and resilient nonprofit sector,” said Joel Zarrow, CEO of Park City Community Foundation. “That’s why we connect donors to causes they care about, host Live PC Give PC each year, and make grants to the nonprofits that give so much to our community. It’s the power of collective giving.”

The Community Fund, which combines contributions of all sizes, supports initiatives addressing affordable housing, mental health care, early childhood education, arts and culture, and environmental protection.

In the past year, the foundation distributed $6 million through 648 grants, facilitated $5.1 million through the annual Live PC Give PC giving day, and provided $1.3 million in programs such as Youth United, the Early Childhood Alliance, Zero Food Waste, and the Women’s Giving Fund. Deer Valley Resort contributed $100,000 to this year’s round of grants.

The celebration also honored two individuals with the 2025 Trisha J. Worthington Community Service Award, recognizing their longstanding commitment to local service. For the first time, the foundation named dual recipients: Jim Gaddis and Heather Ferguson-Sims.

Gaddis, a former competitive skier and youth sports advocate, founded the Youth Sports Alliance and has raised millions of dollars to expand access to athletics. He also played a key role in securing land for the National Ability Center and launching one of Utah’s earliest youth ski racing programs.

Ferguson-Sims was recognized for her years of volunteer leadership with the Park City High School mountain bike team and the Youth Sports Alliance. She has worked to expand participation among Latino youth and low-income families and launched the Power of Play speaker series to provide resources for young athletes and coaches.

“Recognizing both Jim and Heather highlights the many ways service strengthens our community, from building lasting institutions that expand access to creating everyday opportunities through personal commitment and relationships,” said Katherine Aguilera, Park City Community Foundation board member and chair of the Community Fund Steering Committee.

The foundation said it will grant $2,000 to nonprofit organizations chosen by Gaddis and Ferguson-Sims.

For a full list of 2025 Community Fund grant recipients and more information about the foundation’s impact, visit parkcitycf.org.