Origin
Winter4Kids at the National Winter Activity Center was founded out of a Share Winter Foundation (formerly National Winter Sports Education Foundation) initiative. Founder Schone Malliet is a ski racing coach with more than 20 years of experience in winter sports and a background in technology, banking and personal wealth management, who recognizes how winter sports personally changed his path in life. Winter4Kids, which was rebranded for the 2019-2020 season, is a dream come to fruition.
Mission
From the very start, Winter4Kids was envisioned as a vehicle to “Improve the lives, health and fitness of youth through winter activities.” W4K is the physical manifestation of the mission to introduce 100,000 kids to winter activities in a sustainable way. It is on a mission to make a difference in the lives of youth through winter activities. The staff, programs and facility are all committed to delivering on that promise through mentor-based, experiential learning, healthy meals, appropriate equipment and clothing. “Caring, Commitment, Character and Competence” are core principle values of Winter4Kids.
Goals
We will serve 3,096 kids during the 2020 season. By 2023, Winter4Kids aims to serve more than 10,000 youth annually.
Programs
The Winter4Kids Learn Program delivers the opportunity for youth to develop a love for the outdoors and have fun while increasing physical activity during the dark days of winter. Through this experience, youth master snowboarding, Alpine and Nordic skiing.
The Winter4Kids Compete Program provides youth access to Alpine and Nordic training/competition through coaching as a member of the W4K Team. This program supports events and activities that are recreational, organized (U.S. Ski and Snowboard) and interscholastic (NJISRA and USCSA).
Achievements
Since the pilot offering in 2015, Winter4Kids has served over 5,500 kids. It has grown from 180 participants to over 2,100 in 2019. With the enthusiastic support of committed board members and other stakeholders, the National Winter Activity Center re-engineered and repurposed the former Hidden Valley as the home of Winter4Kids.
Fundraising
Winter4Kids works with corporate partners, family foundations and individuals who are very passionate about the sport and youth. They support the organization through grants and donations. Winter4Kids also hosts thematic fundraising events.
Benefactors
The Community Foundation of New Jersey; Share Winter Foundation; the Boston Fund.
Finally
Winter4Kids makes unimaginable dreams inevitable opportunities. Better health, sport mastery, fun and a love of the outdoors encourages youth to explore possibilities in winter and throughout their lives. Winter4Kids Learn builds on the outcomes of their school’s or organizations programs.
In brief
Location: 44 Breakneck Road, Vernon
Serving: Primarily school-age youth from New Jersey and New York who enroll through their YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, school, etc., to participate in a season that runs from December through March.
Key member: Schone Malliet, founder, CEO and president
Conversation Starter
For more information, please contact Schone Malliet, CEO and president, Winter4Kids at: schone.malliet@winter4kids.org
or 973-846-8250.
