Announcing WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund Year 2 Grantees: 10 Organizations Across Maine Awarded $51,000 to Get Kids Active Outdoors!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Julie Mulkern, Executive Director
(207) 871-5700 x102 or (207) 671-4661
jmulkern@winterkids.org
Westbrook, Maine, August 1, 2023 – WinterKids is thrilled to announce the recipients of its Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund second-year grants, totaling $51,000, to 12 outstanding organizations across Maine. These grants are aimed at promoting outdoor activities and encouraging children to stay active throughout the year.
The WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund was established with the mission of getting kids outside and engaged in physical activities. Through a community vote, the top three winning organizations in each category were selected, with one honorable mention winner also being recognized in each category for their dedication and efforts in supporting Maine’s youth.
Maine 501(c)(3) Nonprofits Category
The top three winners in this category are:
Pine Tree Camp
- Location: Rome, Kennebec County
- Grant Amount: $10,000
- Intended Use: The grant will support Pine Tree Camp’s open-door policy, ensuring that children with disabilities have the opportunity to attend camp, irrespective of their ability to pay tuition.
Teens to Trails
- Location: Brunswick, Cumberland County
- Grant Amount: $5,000
- Intended Use: The grant will further support over 68 middle and high school outdoor clubs across Maine, providing funding for transportation, advisor stipends, and club activities.
Aroostook County Action Program
- Location: Presque Isle, Aroostook County
- Grant Amount: $1,500
- Intended Use: The grant will enable the organization to introduce snowshoeing to low-income children countywide, promoting outdoor exploration and physical activity.
Honorable Mention ($500): Maine Youth Fish & Game Association (Stillwater, Penobscot County)
Maine Public Schools Category
The top three winners in this category are:
South Portland Middle School
- Location: South Portland, Cumberland County
- Grant Amount: $10,000
- Intended Use: The grant will be used to purchase necessary equipment such as skate skis, skate boots, and skate poles for any student interested in trying out Nordic skiing on groomed trails. Additionally, a groomer will be acquired to create trails for the students’ use.
Mariners Soar
- Location: Deer Isle, Hancock County
- Grant Amount: $5,000
- Intended Use: The grant will facilitate the establishment of Middle School Outing Clubs at all three of their sites, offering monthly outings, camping trips, transportation to outdoor events, and camping equipment for loan.
Rangeley Lakes Regional School
- Location: Rangeley, Franklin County
- Grant Amount: $1,500
- Intended Use: The grant will enable the purchase of equipment and fund experiences that allow students to continue expanding and strengthening connections with staff and nature.
Honorable Mention ($500): Molly Ockett School (Fryeburg, Oxford County)
Maine Parks & Recreation Category
The top three winners in this category are:
Town of Millinocket Parks & Rec
- Location: Millinocket, Penobscot County
- Grant Amount: $10,000
- Intended Use: The grant will be used to purchase a rope tow lift to be placed at the Town’s sliding hills in the Millinocket Recreation Complex and towards the acquisition of grooming equipment for Katahdin Area Trails.
Saco Parks & Rec
- Location: Saco, York County
- Grant Amount: $5,000
- Intended Use: The grant will help expand recreation hubs at city-owned waterfront parks and provide essential recreation equipment.
City of Bangor Parks & Rec
- Location: Bangor, Penobscot County
- Grant Amount: $1,500
- Intended Use: The grant will go towards purchasing winter mountain biking grooming equipment and snowshoes, as well as funding a new mountain biking Pump Track.
Honorable Mention ($500): Quarry Road Trails (Waterville, Kennebec County)
Congratulations to all the deserving grantees! We commend their commitment to getting kids outdoors and active, making a positive impact on the physical and mental well-being of Maine’s youth.
For more information about the WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund and its initiatives, please visit WinterKids.org/D24Fund, or find our winning grantee feature at https://winterkids.org/blog/meet-the-2nd-annual-winterkids-downhill-24-outdoor-fund-winners/.
ABOUT WINTERKIDS
WinterKids is a nonprofit organization based in Maine that provides children with opportunities to stay active, healthy, and learn outdoors during the winter months. Since its establishment in 1997, WinterKids has been dedicated to ensuring that hundreds of thousands of children embrace the joy of outdoor winter activities while reaping the numerous physical and mental health benefits they provide. Through their innovative programs, including the WinterKids Downhill 24, WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activity. To learn more about WinterKids, please visit www.winterkids.org.
Our Major Community Sponsor is L.L. Bean. Our Supporting Sponsors are Agren, Central Maine Power, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, WEX, and WMTW Channel 8 and The CW.