When the phone rang at the Bridger Ski Foundation earlier in the spring, it was no surprise to hear the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association on the line.
The foundation had spent the last several months working with the national association, preparing thousands of documents for review, making sure every “t” was crossed and every “i” was dotted.
Finally the foundation’s hard work was paying off: It was being honored with a gold certification, the highest honor the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association hands out.
A gold certification places the Bridger Ski Foundation among only 17 other clubs in the country. It is the only ski and snowboard club in Montana to have been so honored.
Formally founded as a nonprofit in 1975, the foundation grew out of a ski club culture in the Bozeman area dating back to the 1930s. Its website lists its mission as promoting excellence through education and competition in alpine, cross-country and Nordic skiing.
For the certification, the club was evaluated on several categories, including athlete and child safety, finance and fundraising, and fostering culture.
The foundation, which had more than 500 participants and 70 coaches last year, was praised in the report, saying its members were “very balanced individuals, with clear athletic and life goals, and they were having fun.”
Bridger spokeswoman Jenny White said the club was particularly proud of that section of the report because the foundation focuses on producing well-rounded members through community involvement and balancing athletics and everyday life. Some clubs that score lower in that category may be emphasizing athletic competition more than the Bridger does, White said.
White said one of the benefits of the award came from the lengthy application process: It made the club more aware of where it needs to improve.
One of Bridger’s lowest scores was in public relations, communications and marketing. The foundation was aware it needed to improve and had a plan in place before the official scores came back. White said the plan includes greater outreach to the larger Bozeman community to grow the foundation.
“It was terrific working with our whole community and USSA on our certification,” Bridger’s Executive Director Swithin McGrath said in a news release. “The gold certification is a great validation of what we’re doing for the athletes and community and provides a platform to build on for the future.”
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