By Tim Hauserman
Photo from the “Skiing for Schools’ Website
The Excellence in Education Foundation in Truckee has announced the 2015 Skiing For Schools program. Throughout the winter various ski resorts provide hefty discounts with the money going to support the programs of Excellence in Ed. Ski areas participating include Homewood, Tahoe Donner, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Cross Country, Northstar, Royal Gorge, Tahoe Donner Cross Country, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Most of the resorts are providing downhill ski tickets for just $40, and cross-country tickets for only $15. For more information on which dates each ski area is participating, and where you can purchase the tickets, go to exined.org
Like Dining for Schools and Golfing for Schools, Skiing for Schools comes about because of the generosity of the local business community who give away discounted tickets, and the public who buys those tickets. It provides skiers with the opportunity to have some fun while doing something good.
Over the past 25 years the Excellence in Education Foundation has provided over $2.7 million in grants to classes and programs at our local schools. Just last year, they provided over $300,000 in grants. Teachers and schools compete for grants based on merit, with awards going to those classrooms and programs where they can provide the most hands on assistance to kids.
Executive Director Laura Brown says that “most grants are for classroom enhancements.” Items like books, science equipment, and musical instruments. Funding the stuff that is needed in the classroom, but just not available in the ordinary school budget. The foundation also partnered with the school district to get Chrome books into the hands of every student between 8-12th grade.
Brown says that the grant process is competitive. All grants, are reviewed by a site administrator and a site council of local citizens, who rank the grants. Then they go to the EIE’s grant committee, where Brown says, “we try very hard to award as many as we can.”
So enjoy a day of skiing and feel doubly good about it.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 
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