Michigan Ski for Light is a 503(C)(3) nonprofit organization, IRS #38-3562887. As a nonprofit organization we appreciate any and all donations to support our endeavor to provide a healthy program for outdoor sports for the mobility and visually impaired. The following are some examples of our needs and supporters.
Richard is one of our mobility impaired skiers. Richard has used crutches and braces to walk due to a birth defect. He thoroughly enjoys the speed and freedom of our new sit skis. Richard, a professional, also is one of our better donors.
Thank you Richard.
Frank is blind and lives in a group home in Detroit. One of the few times he gets to go out is when he attends Michigan Ski for Light. He completely depends on donations to pay for the weekend. $145 for room and board, $20 for ski rentals and approximately $20 for transportation. Besides the 8 people from the group home in Detroit we also have group homes attending from Lansing and Kalamazoo.
Most of our visually impaired skiers do pay their own way, and look forward each year to the fun and reunion of old friends. Each year Michigan Ski for Light sends one of our skiers to attend Ski for Light International. Not only does this skier gain experience but they bring back knowledge and enthusiasm to our program. This is a week long event held in a different location each year. The event that was held in Anchorage, Alaska the cost was about $650 for the event and about $500 for plane fare. This was covered 100% by donations. Other events have been in Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado and New Hampshire.
On the guide side of our organization, we have a group of Central Michigan University students from the College of Health Professions that act as guides and also do an excellent job of leading social activities in the evening. We don't expect them to pay the full price for the weekend so we provide their room and board.
The Lions Club of Rosscommon has made a long term commitment of financial and time support to our organization. They provide transportation to and from the ski area, and pick up and returning about 40 pairs of rental skies, and much more. Thank you Lions Club.
As you can see there is a lot to presenting this event. I didn't mention the cost of mailing, advertising and the cost of this web site. What this boils down to is that we need to raise in excess of $5000.00 a year to promote a healthy winter out door activity to a group of citizens that otherwise would not have this opportunity.
Please send donations, made out to Michigan Ski for Light, to:
Michigan Ski for Light
810 W. Park St.
St. Johns, MI 48879