AbilityPLUS Seeks Skiers/Riders and Unique Auction Items For Annual Winterfest Fundraiser at Mount Snow

WEST DOVER, VT, January 18, 2013 (Press-News.org) AbilityPLUS, the non-profit that provides adaptive sports programs at Mount Snow, is gearing up for this year's annual Winterfest fundraiser, and is looking to businesses and individuals to make the event memorable. Winterfest, to be held Saturday February 2, is a day of skiing/riding, followed by an après party with silent auction and live raffle, all to benefit programs that help people with disabilities improve their lives through participation in athletic and recreational programs. The organization is seeking silent auction and raffle items, sponsors and skiers/riders to participate in the Winterfest Ski/Ride Til You Drop-A-Thon.

"This is our most important fundraising event of the year," said Sue Tatem, AbilityPLUS executive director of programs, noting that the organization relies on donors to support their efforts. "Adaptive sports have a tremendously positive impact on people's lives and we make our programs at Mount Snow available to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances."

Among the AbilityPLUS programs Winterfest supports is its Soldiers For Soldiers , a unique adaptive sports mentoring program for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who incurred life-changing injury as a result of their service to the United States.

"Each year area businesses are incredibly supportive, they donate big-ticket items as well as gift certificates," explained the event's volunteer fundraising coordinator Nekki Saladino, whose son participates in the AbilityPLUS community school program. "They are supporting a great cause and gain new customers and increased traffic as a result," she said.

This year AbilityPLUS is also asking people what they might personally have to help the auction. "Items such as sports or music memorabilia, original artwork, airline miles and vacation home stays are very popular," said Saladino, "nothing is too big or too small!" Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

"The event is pure fun for everyone who participates, and gives businesses and individuals the opportunity to visibly support a cause that's important in the community," added Tatem.

This year's goal is to raise $30,000 to support the AbilityPLUS mission to offer increased access to athletic and recreational opportunities for persons with physical and cognitive disabilities that will create freedom, promote independence, support inclusion and help individuals and their families discover their full social, mental and athletic potential.

If you have a special item to give, or a business you'd like to promote while supporting life-enriching programs, please call Sue Tatem at 802-464-1100 x4699, or email Sue at statem@abilityPLUS.org. To register for the Ski/Ride Til You Drop-A-Thon, or for more information about Winterfest, please visit http://www.abilityPLUS.org.

AbilityPLUS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in its sixteenth year of enriching the lives of program participants, their families, friends and a community of volunteers who work to provide year 'round adaptive sports and recreation for individuals with all manner of disabilities, from severe physical impairments to people with autism across the spectrum. AbilityPLUS has permanent installations at Mount Snow, VT and Attitash and Wildcat in New Hampshire. The AbilityPLUS Soldiers For Soldiers program serves wounded veterans and active-duty service members with various injuries, including amputations, brain injuries, burns, visual and hearing impairments, all forms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional scars. AbilityPLUS is a Chapter of DSUSA and is a Paralympic Sport Club. Additional ABOUT information about AbilityPLUS and full menu of programs is available at AbilityPLUS.org.