Founder’s Pass part of foundation’s new mandate There’s a new name, a new president, a new pass and if the passes sell out, an extra $250,000 a year for charities in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The Blackcomb Foundation, founded in 1992 by Blackcomb Skiing Enterprises, has changed its name to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. The name change reflects the merging of the two mountains, but also the foundation’s focus on the community, says Executive Director Brita McLaughlin. The foundation’s new president is Whistler/Blackcomb vice president David Brownlie, who takes over from Scott Carrel. The foundation is dedicated to the financial support of registered non-profit organizations whose activities benefit the residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor. The foundation has provided approximately $500,000 in grants to numerous organizations throughout the corridor in its first five years. The majority of the foundation’s fund-raising has come from two annual events, the BC Tel Mobility Winter Classic weekend in February on Blackcomb and the Husky Oil Mixed Golf Classic at Big Sky Golf and Country Club in September. "We’re the biggest fund-raiser in the corridor but not everyone knows who we are," McLaughlin says. This year the new name and new president coincide with a mandate to expand the foundation’s fund-raising efforts. The vehicle for that is the Founder’s Pass. Whistler/Blackcomb is offering 50 Founder’s Passes for sale this year at $5,000 each. The exclusive passes are fully transferable, good at any of Intrawest’s eight mountain resorts in North America, and offer priority lift access at any of Whistler or Blackcomb’s bases for the pass holder and a maximum of three guests. A portion of the pass price, $2,530, is tax deductible. The Founder’s Pass is available to the general public, but only until Sept. 30. Founder’s Passes will be sold as applications are received. "We’ve had a ton of calls," says McLaughlin. "It’s gone really well. It’s especially attractive to corporations, who can give it to their clients to use when they’re not using it." If all 50 passes are sold, that will add $250,000 to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation’s fund-raising efforts for this year. Combined with next weekend’s Husky Oil Mixed Golf Classic at Big Sky and February’s BC Tel Mobility Winter Classic, the total amount raised by the foundation this year could reach $400,000. "We really want to make a substantial difference to the Sea to Sky Corridor communities," McLaughlin says. "We want to get the (new) library up and running, the Skiers Chapel going. "And we want to help the Squamish and Pemberton communities, too." The foundation is also considering selling 50:50 tickets at specific events this year as another fund-raising tool. The Sept. 11 Husky Oil Mixed Golf Classic is sold out but there are a few dinner tickets still available, at $75 each. The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation accepts applications for funding twice a year: in the four weeks prior to Sept. 30 and the four weeks prior to May 1. There are 10 criteria for applicants, including: they must be registered non-profit charities, and they must benefit people in the Sea to Sky Corridor. For information on the Founder’s Pass or the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation contact McLaughlin at 938-9319 or at the Whistler/Blackcomb offices, 4545 Blackcomb Way.
