DOING GOOD THE EXCHANGE Winter 2024 Eight nonpro昀椀ts dedicated to making Achieve Tahoe was founded in a formalized program that helped snow sports more accessible. Achieve 1967 by Jim Winthers, a World War more people. II veteran and director of the Soda Tahoe Today, Achieve Tahoe provides year- Springs Ski School. Jim brought round outdoor recreation activities together a group of Vietnam for people with cognitive, sensory, veterans with disabilities and taught and physical disabilities. They them how to ski. At the time, focus on health, con昀椀dence, and adaptive sports equipment didn’t independence for an experience exist, so they had to adapt their that carries over into the rest of own equipment. The experience participants’ lives. was so positive that Jim felt the Shredding community could bene昀椀t from Adaptive The Adaptive Sports Foundation skiing programs with adaptive Sports (ASF) is a nonpro昀椀t organization in equipment and certi昀椀ed instructors. Windham, NY, that provides adaptive In addition to hosting events, they Foundation sports instruction and equipment have inspiring success stories, such to people with disabilities. Their as that of Evan Strong, a former mission is to help individuals attendee who earned a gold medal enjoy winter sports and gain in snowboarding at the 2014 Barriers independence. ASF o昀昀ers skiing, Paralympic Games. snowboarding, and cross-country With snow season upon us in the northern hemisphere, many of us Emily Coombs founded the Doug a chance to play, try new things, and Coombs Coombs Foundation in 2012 to are getting outside and hitting the slopes. But winter sports like skiing get comfortable in the outdoors. provide all Jackson Hole youth with and snowboarding aren’t easily accessible to everyone. They involve Outdoors For older children, programs o昀昀er the chance to ski and participate in an escape from problems at school other outdoor activities that their a lot of gear, pricey passes, transportation, and often lodging. There are or home, time away from screens, peers enjoy, regardless of their and opportunities to develop new also physical barriers for many when adaptive equipment, specialized family’s circumstances. For the skills and even work an internship in youngest participants, programs are training, and properly trained instructors aren’t available. Luckily, there the outdoor industry. are lots of fabulous nonpro昀椀ts out there on a mission to make mountains accessible to all, regardless of their ability or socioeconomic status. Here are just a few. 10