Vail Valley Foundation

Since our inception in 1981, the Vail Valley Foundation’s mission has been to “provide leadership in athletic, cultural and educational endeavors to sustain and enhance the quality of life in the Vail Valley. We have the privilege of annually providing the Vail Valley with a vast array of world-class events and programs, literally and figuratively bringing the world to the Valley and introducing the Valley to the world.

Fueled by the generous support of donors, coupled with the support of the community and its volunteers, the Foundation is responsible for such treasured annual events as the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup, Vail International Dance Festival, the American Ski Classic, the GoPro Mountain Games, free community concert series such as Bud Light Hot Summer Nights and two spectacular performing arts venues in the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail and the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek. In addition, the Foundation periodically brings major international events to Vail and Beaver Creek such as the upcoming 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

As a community-focused organization, the VVF’s Youth Foundation employs an educational philosophy from “cradle to college.” The wide variety of education programs address early childhood development, after school academic and enrichment programs, summer academic and enrichment programs, teenage mentorship and leadership development and college and vocational scholarship opportunities.

Scheduled from February 2-15 of 2015, the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek are expected to showcase athletes from over 70 nations, with an estimated 750 million worldwide television viewers and an onsite media and broadcast entourage of approximately 1,500 members. The World Championships represent the largest and most impressive collection of ski racing talent in the world, second only to the Olympics.