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BOEC's Inspirations
The Official Newsletter of the BOEC
March 8, 2022
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Dear Friend of BOEC,
With February behind us, we, like all of you, are looking forward to spring with longer days, warmer temperatures, and hopefully, some good spring skiing!
This month marks my 4th year with the BOEC, a time of great challenges and even greater rewards. BOEC continues to thrive with the help of our generous supporters, an amazing board of directors, and a strong staff of passionate and talented people who all contribute daily to the smooth operation of this organization. I am very grateful to have this opportunity to work with everyone who supports the BOEC and look forward to a number of years to come.
In this issue of Inspirations, we share a few stories that motivate us to do the work we do. First, we share the story of the Pritchard family, a wonderful bunch from Wales who have been coming to Breckenridge and the BOEC for years. Ben Pritchard re-learned to ski with BOEC following a competitive cycling accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, and his brother, Sam, was so impressed with the experience, he decided to return in 2019 as a BOEC intern. What an amazing family they are and we know that you will enjoy reading their story. Secondly, we introduce you to Bonnie Kittle, a polio survivor who came to BOEC to learn to ski on her 70th birthday! Her two sons made it a point to ski with their mother on her birthday, and they did just that - with courage and heart.
Finally, thank you to everyone who joined us for the 13th annual Banff Film Festival which returned over two nights on Feb 25 and 26. It was wonderful to be together again after a one-year absence for this fun event, which raised over $76K for BOEC's programs for adaptive recreation and outdoor education.
As always, we thank you for your ongoing support of BOEC and our programs, which we hope enrich the lives of those we serve.
Warmly,
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Sonya Norris
Executive Director
Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center
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Sonya Norris (third from left) skis with BOEC volunteers and a member of Team Semper Fi at Keystone Ski Resort. |
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It's the People Who Make BOEC So Special: Executive Director, Sonya Norris |
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BOEC Executive Director, Sonya Norris, celebrates her four-year anniversary with the organization this month. This is her journey from Vancouver, B.C. to Breckenridge, CO, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the adaptive sports world. Check it out! |
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Ben Pritchard poses at London's Heathrow Airport before his flight to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. |
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A True BOEC Family Affair: Ben and the Pritchard Family |
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Ben Pritchard was a competitive cyclist whose career ended all too early due to a devastating spinal cord injury. This is the story of the Welshman's never-give-up attitude, a new Paralympic sport, and learning to ski all over again with the BOEC. |
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Adaptive ski participant Bonnie Kittle poses with her two sons, Andrew and Jason, and BOEC Instructor JR O'Neil. |
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A 70th Birthday to Remember! The Story of Bonnie Kittle - Polio Survivor |
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BOEC participants come from all walks of life. They come to us from all over the world, of all ages, and with a wide array of disabilities and special needs to experience the life-changing effects of our outdoor programs. One disability that is not usually on our radar these days, however, is post-polio syndrome. Bonnie Kittle, a New Jersey native, and polio survivor skied with us for the first time on her 70th birthday this past December. This is her story of surviving the epidemic, living a very fulfilling life, and experiencing something that she never thought possible. |
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The crowd goes crazy Friday night in hopes of catching some BOEC schwag at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. |
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That's a Wrap from the 13th Annual Banff Film Festival |
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The 13th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival returned in 2022 after taking a year off due to the pandemic. It was two nights of some of the most inspiring and thought-provoking action, environmental and adventure mountain films in the world ... all to support the BOEC and its programs for adaptive recreation and outdoor education. Click below to see what went on and a thank you to all of the donors, staff, and festival-goers that made this yearly event such a huge success.
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Buy Coffee & Support BOEC!
Need a coffee to warm you up before hitting the slopes? 100% of the proceeds from Agápē Roasting coffee sales will go directly to BOEC from January 1 through June 30, 2022. Thank you to BOEC volunteers and passionate coffee roasters Jen and Brad Baltz!
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BOEC is Hiring a Development Coordinator
Do you have what it takes to bring BOEC's fundraising efforts to the next level? BOEC is looking for a development coordinator that has experience in fundraising, non-profit best practices, and data management. If this describes you, click below to apply now.
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Support BOEC While You Shop!
Let's face it, we all have to shop at the grocery store, right? So why not incorporate BOEC into your shopping routine? It's shopping for a cause. All you have to do is register your City Market or King Soopers Value Card and add the BOEC as your nonprofit of choice. Click below to learn more.
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THANK YOU TO OUR KEY PARTNERS |
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The mission of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) is to expand the potential of people with disabilities and special needs through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.
BOEC is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit
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