SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., Apr. 25, 2007-Vail Resorts (VR) and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) raised more than $225,000 for local conservation projects, thanks to the generosity of Vail guests. Starting in September 2006, VR asked guests at its five mountain resorts to contribute $1 on purchases of season passes, online lift tickets, and lodging at its Colorado-based lodging properties. Each dollar raised results in $1.50 in on-the-ground conservation funding through the NFF. Vail Resorts expects to raise as much as $600,000 (including the matching funds), three to four times more than the NFF's next-largest fundraising program of this kind.

In 2007 seven non-profit organizations will receive a share of the $225,815 raised from the program to begin conservation projects on Colorado's White River National Forest, where Vail Resorts operates Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts. Priority was given to action-oriented collaborative projects that proactively addressed conservation issues on the White River National Forest, such as wildlife habitat improvement, recreation and stream restoration.

"We view the success of our program as an indication of the level of commitment our guests have to protecting the spectacular National Forests in which we operate our resorts," says Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "We want to offer them our sincerest thanks for helping in this critical effort."