Dear Mad River Glen skiers and shareholders:
THANK YOU! Over the last three years we have worked together to raise the funds needed to sustain our beloved Cooperative ski area for another generation of skiers.
On May 3rd we closed the public phase of the capital campaign less than two weeks after our record-setting season of 136 skiing days. The final end-of-season match netted over $323,000 from 454 donors. What a way to end the ski season!
The
Preserve Our Paradise Campaign
currently stands unofficially at over $5.5 million in cash and pledges. This amount is unofficial because donations are still rolling in. We plan to announce the final tally at the Green and Gold shareholders’ meeting on October 5th.
This level of funding means that we will be able to support our most essential capital projects, many of which have been rolling out over the last two years. We are so grateful to the MRG community and all the volunteers who worked on the campaign.
Our biggest projects will be to renovate the Basebox and rebuild the Patrol Building during the 2020 construction season. The planning, design, and estimating is well underway. You will receive much more information about this through Green and Gold and we will also be asking shareholders for their approval of the final budget as required by our bylaws. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, we have many memories of this campaign and this great ski season as we head into the Memorial Day weekend. General Stark’s Pub opens for the summer season this Thursday, May 23, and on Friday we will be drawing the winner of the season pass raffle at the Pub. Any donor who gave $250 or more during the last match is entered to win! You don’t have to be present to win but we hope you can come for some of Mad River’s legendary hospitality.
Thank you again for your generosity. There is still much work to do, and we hope to add to the final campaign total as we go forward this summer and fall.
Any gifts
between now and Green and Gold will be gratefully accepted and help fund important enhancements to the crucial building projects.
Have a wonderful summer season and we look forward to seeing you back at the mountain very soon.
Annika Holtan
Eric Palola
Campaign Co-Chair
Campaign Co-Chair
& Board President
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The Campaign by the Numbers
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The Preserve Our Paradise Campaign was the result of two years of planning and three years of fundraising by the Mad River Glen Cooperative, in partnership with the Stark Mountain Foundation. It was an ambitious effort that built upon the pioneering 2007 Single Chair Campaign that raised $1.9 million to rebuild Mad River’s iconic lift. The final numbers for the campaign will be announced at this year’s Green and Gold weekend, pending completion of some remaining donor solicitations. The response to this campaign by the Mad River Glen community has been truly heartwarming and inspiring.
Numbers are as of May 20:
Total gifts and pledges:
$5,530,000
Total number of donors to the campaign:
973
Funds raised by Mad River Glen’s Shareholders:
$3,974,000
(72% of total)
Largest donation:
$650,000
from an anonymous donor
Smallest donation:
$1
from a seven-year-old third-generation MRG skier
Donations to the final match in March and April:
$323,000
Number of donors to the final match:
454
Total raised by the final match, including matching funds:
$571,000
Our sincere thanks to each and every donor!
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Yet Another Busy Season Ahead for Campaign Projects
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Although the campaign's largest projects will take place next year - including the renovations to the Basebox and the new Patrol/Ski School building - there's still a lot going on this summer!
The improvements to Mad River Glen's
snowmaking
will be completed this summer. Coverage will return above the Birdcage up to Kay's Grove after being discontinued many years ago due to inadequate pressure from the old system. Coverage will also be extended up past the last curve on the Bunny to address a long-standing problem area. New hydrants on Rockefellers, Tower One on the Double, and at the top of the Practice Slope will make snowmaking operations more efficient for our hard-working mountain staff.
The campaign-funded excavator will be put to good use replacing aging and inadequate
culverts
around the mountain. Although this work isn't very glamorous, improved drainage is one of the best ways we can enhance our ability to operate on limited natural snow. A
trail crew
will work their way around the mountain, maintaining our glades and cutting back encroaching growth on the trails in certain areas.
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The
planning
for the Basebox renovations and Patrol/Ski School building continues as the Facilities Committee, GM Matt Lillard, and our architects refine plans and estimates for these major projects. This fall, Mad River Glen's Board of Trustees will be asking shareholders to approve these major capital expenditures in keeping with the Coop's bylaws. A number of desirable options for the Basebox
are not yet funded
, including additional cubby storage, additional seating, and mechanical and electrical system upgrades, so
donations are still being accepted
through this summer.
Look for more information about these projects in a late summer issue of this newsletter, as your donations are put to good use preserving this very special mountain!
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A huge load of culverts was delivered in mid-May for this summer's trail work.
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The Skier Keeps Moving Up!
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On April 17, General Manager Matt Lillard moved the skier up higher on the side of the Single Chair to mark the campaign reaching the $5 million mark. On Memorial Day weekend, we'll be moving the skier up once again to celebrate passing the $5.5 million mark. Raising this amount of money is a huge achievement for the Mad River Glen Cooperative and the Stark Mountain Foundation. You can
learn more about what the campaign has already accomplished
at the campaign website. Thank you for making this possible!
Thanks to Liz Harris for the progress installation artwork.
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Looking Back on a Winter to Remember...
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It started with a powdery early opening on November 24, and finished on April 20 with corn snow and a few bare spots to jump. Along the way, Mad River Glen operated for a record-setting 136 days. All in all, it was a great season to cap off the final winter of fundraising for the Preserve Our Paradise Campaign. Until next season, have a great summer everyone, and thank you for your wonderful support of Mad River Glen.
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November 14: The snow flew early and the skinners were already earning their turns on the Chute.
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November 29: After MRG staff scrambled to get the mountain ready for an early opening with great conditions on November 24, things went full-scale epic with a huge dump on the 29th. (Yes, there are
two
skiers in this photo! )
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January 28: December and January brought lots of great skiing with a few of the usual New England weather bumps along the way. But late January found our glades in fine form!
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March 23: Yet another epic dump brought more spectacular powder skiing and set us up for a great finish to the season.
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April 6: This is what it's all about. Mad River's shareholders gather for a group photo just prior to the annual meeting.
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April 13:
Jep Peacock gives
Lu Putnam a very wet toboggan ride during the first Mad River Glen Pond Skim!
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YOUR COMPLETE CAMPAIGN RESOURCE:
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Upcoming MRG Events
May 23
General Stark's Pub opens for season.
May 24
Drawing held in Pub for winner of the MRG season pass
donor
raffle.
June 15
Board of Trustees Meeting, 8 am in the Basebox.
July 4
Join the MRG float in the Warren parade!
September 21
Board of Trustees Meeting, 8 am in the Basebox.
October 5
Green and Gold weekend.
Coop Shareholder's meeting, final campaign report and donation total announced. 5pm in the Basebox.
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Campaign Cabinet
Chairs:
Annika Holtan, Eric Palola
Members at Large:
Lars Bruns, Bob Dillon, Jim Elkind, Amory Hunnewell, Betsy Jondro, Karen Lloyd, Brandi Myers, John Nesbett, Pamela Nesbett, Penny Parson, Meg Schultz, Greg Scott, Debra Steines, John Tobin, Brooks Ware
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Look for our next newsletter in September before Green & Gold weekend.
Stay connected with the campaign on social media:
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