Park City’s Macuga sisters help raise $1.35 million for U.S. Ski Team

ST. LOUIS — Ron Kruszewski, chairman of Stifel Financial Corp. and a U.S. Ski & Snowboard trustee, hosted the 11th annual Stifel U.S. Ski Team Fundraiser on Saturday, raising a record $1.35 million for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation.

The money will support programs, training and athlete development for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.

This year’s event, themed “Snowchella,” put a winter sports spin on the Coachella music festival and brought together business leaders, clients, partners and supporters of the team.

Six U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes attended, including three-time Olympic gold medalist alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic gold medalist freeskier Alex Ferreira, two-time Paralympic gold medalist snowboarder Noah Elliott and World Championships medalist alpine skier Lauren Macuga. Park City athletes Alli Macuga, a moguls skier, and Sam Macuga, a ski jumper, also attended. Lauren, Alli and Sam Macuga are sisters from Park City.

“In our 11th year of the St. Louis fundraiser, Ron and the community once again raised the bar, bringing in a record $1,350,000 for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team,” Shiffrin told U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Sierra Ryder. “Together, we have raised over $10 million in the last 11 years, and that’s because of, and thanks to, Ron, Stifel and the St. Louis community.”

Shiffrin, who has attended the fundraiser every year since it began, said the support benefits athletes across the team.

The event has grown into one of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s largest fundraisers.

“This record-setting support from Ron Kruszewski, Stifel and the St. Louis community continues to make a meaningful difference for our athletes and provides critical resources that help the Stifel U.S. Ski Team pursue their dreams on the world stage,” U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said.