3/18/2025 –
Dear Friends,
I am excited to announce Vermont Adaptive has received a $500,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor in support of its Vermont Adaptive Forever endowment fund.
“Vermont Adaptive changed my life,” the anonymous donor stated in an email to Vermont Adaptive. “After a severe skiing accident, a spinal cord injury threatened to rob me of my favorite activities…skiing, hiking, cycling, motorcycles, golf and running. Two years to the day after my accident, I hesitantly signed up for Vermont Adaptive, got on my skis and returned to skiing. Vermont Adaptive also helped me get back to the golf course (but not my handicap!). I wouldn’t be alive today without the confidence and hope that Vermont Adaptive instilled in my broken body. I can’t think of a more worthy organization and leader to help bring more of that magic to the many others as or more deserving than me.”
Additionally, every member of Vermont Adaptive’s board of directors has made a financial commitment to the endowment for 2025 to kick things off, collectively contributing approximately $30,000 toward the fund’s $3 million goal.
These two milestones mark significant momentum in securing the long-term sustainability of our programs and the organization. We are incredibly grateful to this anonymous donor and our board for their commitment to ensuring that Vermont Adaptive remains a strong and vibrant community in the future.
For nearly 40 years, we have remained committed to providing scholarships, ensuring no one is turned away due to financial barriers. This core value continues to anchor us, and we are dedicated to upholding it for years to come.
Last year alone, Vermont Adaptive awarded more than $210,000 in program scholarships, supporting our mission to make outdoor recreation accessible to all. With a sliding scale fee for year-round programs, we provided over 5,300 outings in 2024 to people of all abilities, including veterans.
Your donation to the Vermont Adaptive Forever fund helps ensure a future where everyBODY can experience outdoor adventure. With the $500,000 matching challenge now in place, every dollar donated to the Vermont Adaptive Forever endowment will be doubled, up to the full match amount.
Thanks to your support, we will continue adapting to needs and providing opportunities for decades to come.
With Gratitude,
Erin Fernandez
Executive Director
Individuals interested in contributing can make a one-time donation or consider leaving a legacy gift by including Vermont Adaptive in their estate plans. To learn more or to donate, visit vermontadaptive.org/endowment.
