SOS Outreach receives $279K grant for youth winter sports programs

The nonprofit, which serves about 600 local youth annually, received the largest award in Katz Amsterdam’s 2026 winter sports grant cycle.

PARK CITY, Utah — SOS Outreach, a nonprofit that serves about 600 youth annually through its Park City programs, has received a $279,445 grant to expand access to skiing and snowboarding through its Midwest programs.

The award is the largest of 18 grants announced Sept. 23 through the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust’s 2026 Youth Access to Winter Sports Program. The grants total $1,111,591 and are expected to reach about 2,521 youth this winter.

SOS Outreach operates youth programs across the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes, including programs at Park City Mountain and Deer Valley. Although the latest grant is designated for its Midwest programs, the organization has received approximately $1.1 million through its six-year partnership with Katz Amsterdam.

The funding is part of a $10 million multiyear commitment established by Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz and his late wife, Elana Amsterdam, through their charitable trust.

Since the initiative began in 2020, the trust says it has supported 24 organizations across North America and connected more than 13,000 youth with skiing and snowboarding, representing more than 65,000 cumulative skier days.

“I am proud of how this commitment has removed barriers to get more kids on the mountain,” Katz said in a statement.

SOS Outreach combines outdoor recreation with mentorship and leadership development. According to the trust, 303 youth across its funded partner programs advanced into mentor roles during the 2025-26 season, with about 400 more expected in 2026-27.

“A first day on the mountain opens a door,” SOS Outreach CEO Seth Ehrlich said in a statement. “What matters is helping young people feel that they belong and giving them opportunities to keep growing.”

The National Brotherhood of Snowsports received $274,174 in the latest grant round, while the Chill Foundation received $225,000. The trust said Vail Resorts has contributed more than $56.4 million in programming and in-kind youth access support over the past five seasons.

Vail Resorts owns and operates Park City Mountain.