Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust Announces 2026 Youth Winter Sports Grants
$1.1 million in 2026 grants to reach an estimated 2,521 youth, part of the Trust’s $10 million, multi-year commitment to expanding youth access to winter sports
BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust, in partnership with Vail Resorts, today announced $1,111,591 in 2026 grants through the Youth Access to Winter Sports Program. The awards will help 18 organizations put an estimated 2,521 youth on the slopes this winter. The grants are part of a $10 million, multi-year commitment made by Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz and his late wife, Elana Amsterdam, through their Charitable Trust, which has connected more than 13,000 youth to skiing and snowboarding since 2020.
Since the commitment’s launch in 2020, Katz Amsterdam has supported 24 organizations across North America to expand inclusion in winter sports, prioritizing organizations that serve marginalized communities, including communities of color. Together, these networks have connected more than 13,000 youth with skiing and snowboarding, accounting for more than 65,000 cumulative skier days.
“I am proud of how this commitment has removed barriers to get more kids on the mountain,” said Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts and co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation. “The organizations we partnered with took that and built something real — I’m excited about what they’ve created, and confident they’ll keep inspiring the next generation of skiers and riders for years to come.”
Among the program’s longest-running grantees is the National Brotherhood of Snowsports, which has received approximately $1.5 million since 2021 to support its mission of introducing people of color to the outdoors and snowsports.
“Representation is important. When kids can see themselves on the mountain, in the lift line, and in the instructor teaching them, it changes what they believe is possible for themselves,” said Henri Rivers, President of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports. “We’re grateful for our continued partnership with Vail Resorts and Katz Amsterdam, whose support has helped make more equitable access to winter sports possible for our clubs and communities year after year.”
As the single largest recipient in the 2026 round, SOS Outreach brings snow sports and mentorship to communities across the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and Great Lakes. Young people who found their footing on snow through the program years ago are now returning as mentors themselves. Across Katz Amsterdam funded partner programs, 303 youth advanced into mentor roles in 2025–26, with an estimated 400 more expected in 2026–27.
“A first day on the mountain opens a door. What matters is helping young people feel that they belong and giving them opportunities to keep growing,” said Seth Ehrlich, CEO of SOS Outreach. “Through our partnership with Katz Amsterdam Foundation and Vail Resorts, we’ve seen SOS participants return as mentors, become leaders in their communities, and pursue careers in the outdoor industry. That’s the kind of impact that lasts well beyond a day or a season.”
This work is made possible in partnership with Vail Resorts, which has contributed more than $56.4 million in programming and in-kind youth access support over the past five seasons. Combined with its own broader youth access initiatives, Vail Resorts has helped connect nearly 73,000 young people to the mountains since 2021, reflecting a shared, long-term commitment to expanding access to winter sports for the next generation.
2026 Youth Access to Winter Sports Program Grant Recipients
- Allegheny Youth Development – Pittsburgh, PA – $10,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston – Boston, MA – $100,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington – Washington, DC – $31,875
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore – Baltimore, MD – $15,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh, PA – $12,500
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI – $10,000
- Chicago Youth Centers – Chicago, IL – $30,007
- City Kids Wilderness Project – Washington, DC – $25,000
- Girls Inc. of Chicago – Chicago, IL – $26,090
- Hazleton Integration Project – Hazleton, PA – $20,000
- Montgomery County Department of Recreation – Montgomery County, MD – $7,500
- National Brotherhood of Skiers – Multi-State – $274,174
- Outdoor Inclusion Coalition – Pittsburgh, PA – $20,000
- Re:Source Cleveland – Cleveland, OH – $15,000
- River City Foundation – St. Louis, MO – $2,500
- SOS Outreach – Multi-State – $279,445
- The Chill Foundation – Multi-State – $225,000
- Yellow Breeches Educational Center – Carlisle, PA – $7,500
Video with stories from past youth participants:
About the Katz Amsterdam Foundation and Charitable Trust
The Katz Amsterdam Foundation strives to be a catalyst for eliminating barriers to health, increasing access to opportunity, and improving outcomes for all. The Foundation partners with communities to advance just and equitable approaches to mental, behavioral, and reproductive health care and to strengthen civic engagement. Its priority is supporting community-driven work that improves individual and collective well-being. Learn more at www.katzamsterdam.org.
Media Contact: Lauren Swanson, lauren@sociallyqueued.com, (203) 258-9927
Press Room: Press Room/ Youth Winter Sports