WSC Foundation Letter

Dear Friend: We share a common bond as Western alumni, a camaraderie that connects us. We chose Western not because it was convenient, certainly not because it was warm, and not because that’s what everyone else was doing. We chose Western because the campus and its breath-taking setting are as unique as we are. That is as true today as when we were students.

Right now, Western is in danger of losing part of that uniqueness, a chapter of its heritage and history, a piece of its character. The intercollegiate Ski Program will be eliminated in 30 days, unless we stand together to stop that from happening. Whether or not you were a skier, you can appreciate that the Ski Team is part of Western’s fabric, and when that is torn, it affects all of us. But we will not stand idly by and let that happen.

We’re saving the Ski Program! Will you join us in saving not only the ski program, but a piece of Western’s unique character as well? We need your help and the help of all WSC alumni, friends and donors for the final push across the finish line.

We are a core group of ski alumni who have banded together with the support and of Western’s administration, athletic department and foundation to save Western’s ski program from being cut, and endowing it permanently.

As you may know, drastic and repeated cuts in public funding, together with increased costs of collegiate athletics, forced Western to face the unthinkable – eliminating institutional funding for one of Western’s proudest traditions, competitive skiing. Western does not want to lose its competitive ski program, and we proud alumni will not allow that as long as we have a breath in our lungs and a dollar (or thousand) in our pockets! Western alumni never shrink back from a challenge. And achieving what others think is improbable or impossible is one of our defining characteristics. So that’s just what we’re doing – we’re privately funding Western’s NCAA Division I Ski Program!

There are two steps to this Herculean task. The first is receiving enough in annual gift commitments for the next five years ($125,000 per year) to sustain the team. The second step is to use that time to attract sufficient investment for an endowment which would provide at least that amount in perpetuity ($2.5 million+). Daunting? Yes. Possible? You bet your diploma! Of the $125,000 needed in annual commitments, we and small group of others have already passed the $109,000 mark! Won’t you consider adding your generous five-year commitment to ours?

When we meet the annual funding goal, we will direct all our fundraising energies toward building the endowment. We know there are friends out there who appreciate Western’s rich skiing heritage, and know that Western is the smallest 4-year public college to compete against the NCAA Division I power houses in all ski categories. You know that Western has produced a staggering list of individual National Champions, US Ski Team members and coaches, Olympians, and skiing legends. What you may not know is that Western is one of the few places where promising American skiers can still compete at the highest collegiate level – NCAA Division I. Nearly all of the top colleges and universities in the United States buy their skiers from overseas. Not Western! We seek out promising American skiers!

The public education funding tide has turned. Western must behave more like a private institution. And we are leading our peers in doing so. Western will soon have the first 100% privately-funded academic building at a Colorado public college or university: The Borick Business Building. Western will soon have a new privately funded track facility. And Western will soon have the first privately funded ski program. But NOW IS THE TIME we need your commitment. By April 30, we must tell our skiers and coaches that they’ll be back next year, and the year after, and the year after.

What are you willing to commit as an annual gift for the next 5 years? What if any commitment could you make toward the endowment over the next 5 years? Maybe you’re only able to do a little bit. We still need you! Maybe you’re an angel-investor who can write that seven-figure check to the endowment and end the campaign right here and now. Well, we reckon we can deal with that too! Most likely, you’re somewhere in between. Please, we need you to do all you can. And we need your response today.

We ask you to please SEND NO MONEY NOW. We are seeking only your commitment. After the responses are received, and we have sufficient commitments, we will send you an invoice for your first gift installment.

We are confident that despite the daunting challenge, we as Western alumni hold the key to securing Western’s intercollegiate ski program now and for the future. Once again, we will set a new standard of commitment to Western, making WSC the first public four-year institution in Colorado to privately endow an intercollegiate sport – Skiing! Our team is headed for a big win, please join us. Thank you in advance! We’re counting on you! And so is Western.

SKIING AT WESTERN FOREVER! -
The Ski Summit Core Group
Shannon Armstrong ’79 Andy Marquez ‘88
Doug Carlson ’81 Dean Stevenson ‘81
Carlo Gaines ’72 Kevin Taylor ‘04
Dave Gorsuch ’64 Terry Wickland ‘87
Tami Maciejko ‘81

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO tHE WSC FOUNDATION
(make sure to designate your gift to the "Ski Team Fund")