Vail Resorts’ Katz, wife donating $2.5M
As individuals and communities contend with the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, have announced a donation of more than $2.5 million to provide immediate support for Vail Resorts employees and the mountain towns where the company operates.
Katz will donate $1.5 million in immediate emergency relief grants that will benefit more than a dozen local organizations providing critical services in Eagle, Summit and Gunnison counties in Colorado; Park City, Utah; Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Whistler, British Columbia; Stowe and Okemo, Vt.; Stevens Pass, Wash.; and Jackson Hole, Wyo. (home of Grand Teton Lodge Company).
An additional $1 million is being donated by Katz to create a new fund within Vail Resorts Epic Promise Employee Foundation, which helps the company’s employees respond to unpredictable setbacks, including medical events. This fund will help meet the increased need for assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19, ensuring that the foundation has the resources to address this challenge.
“I cannot recall another moment in my lifetime that has caused so much disruption to our lives — to our work, to our health and to our communities,” Katz said.
“Throughout this incredibly challenging time, two of our absolute priorities have been, and will continue to be, the health and well-being of our employees and mountain communities.
“What makes our resorts so special is where they’re located and the passionate people who live there. As we navigate this situation, it’s essential we continue to support our employees and the vitality of our communities, providing partnership when it’s needed most.”
The donation will be distributed through the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust, which was established to support mountain communities, with an initial focus on eliminating the stigma of mental illness and increasing access to mental and behavioral health care.
Since 2016, the trust has donated over $10 million total, including nearly $6.5 million in mental and behavioral health grants, to communities where Vail Resorts operates.