Industry News
Last week saw a large fundraiser in St. Louis, MO, for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams. The fundraiser is held in St. Louis every year and attracts a crowd of several hundred donors, who raise valuable funds to support Team America’s winter sport athletes. This year’s event was the 6th ‘St. Louis Aprés Ski Party’ and was themed “denim and ice.” A total of $800,000 was raised for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams.
Hosted by Stifel Financial Corporation’s CEO Ron Kruszewski, the St. Louis fundraiser is one of the annual fundraisers for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Teams. Ron hosted the event at his home and had it styled in a ‘hoedown meets ice-princess’ fashion, featuring a ‘Mikaela’s Saloon’ where he and Mikaela Shiffrin greeted the guests.
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Mikaela Shiffrin is an alpine race skier on the U.S. Ski Team. The Edwards, CO, resident has won 74 World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, and four World Cup Championships. Mikaela debuted at the World Cup series at just 16 years old and this will be her 13th season on the World Cup circuit. She is one of the most successful alpine skiers of all time.
Shiffrin posted on her personal Instagram page:
“St. Louis, you have outdone yourselves. Some of the best sports fans in the world and I’m so happy to have connected with you all again before the season officially starts. On behalf of the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, we can’t thank you enough for your support. It’s because of all of you that we’re able to do what we love.”
The fundraiser was in the form of a silent auction, with U.S. Ski Team and Olympic paraphernalia being auctioned, as well as local art and other items. All funds raised will go towards the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams. The U.S. does not have federal funding for its Olympic athletes. A lot of funding is therefore derived from corporate sponsorships and fundraisers. The $800,000 raised will go a long way to help the U.S. athletes in the coming 22/23 World Cup season.
