Featured Picture: Youth skier. Credit score: Jodi Hilton/YES
On Might 14, Youth Enrichment Companies (YES), a nonprofit devoted to providing significant out of doors experiences to hundreds of younger individuals in Boston since 1968, was honored with the 2025 Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion Champion of the 12 months Award by U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
“YES is proud to offer entry to snowboarding and snowboarding to greater than 100,000 Boston youth over the previous 5 many years. We consider each younger particular person ought to have a chance to take pleasure in out of doors sports activities, and we make sure that funds aren’t a barrier,” stated Bryan Van Dorpe, Govt Director of YES. “Being acknowledged by the distinguished U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a tribute to the arduous work of our workers and volunteers and the generosity of our donors.”
The Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion Champion of the 12 months Award is concentrated on recognizing an individual, group, group, or program that has contributed considerably and sustainably to advancing range, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) in snowboarding and snowboarding.
The award was offered to Van Dorpe and Mark Williams, son of YES founder Richard Williams, a YES Trustee and YES Alumni Circle Chair, on the Chairman’s Awards Dinner on the 2025 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress in Park Metropolis, Utah.
“Youth Enrichment Companies exemplifies the transformative energy of sport to create entry, fairness, and alternative,” stated Matt Giacalone, VP of Individuals, SafeSport, and DEI at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “For greater than 5 many years, YES has opened the door for hundreds of younger individuals in Boston to expertise the enjoyment of snowboarding and snowboarding. We’re proud to honor their extraordinary dedication to inclusion in our sport.”
For greater than 56 years, YES has supplied low- to moderate-income youngsters and youths all through Boston with the chance to discover ways to ski—lots of whom may not have the chance to take pleasure in New England’s mountains. YES was based in 1968 by the late Richard Williams, whose objective was to “give youth an opportunity.” Williams had a ardour for snowboarding and drew inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his name to dream of potentialities. He additionally benefited from youth mentorship applications.
Over time, YES has grown to incorporate different out of doors actions resembling snowboarding, mountaineering, biking, and monitor and discipline. The group empowers Boston youth to achieve their full potential by out of doors experiences and management alternatives that construct confidence and put together them to face life’s challenges.
About YES
Based in 1968, Youth Enrichment Companies (YES) affords Boston youth alternatives to expertise the outside, develop confidence, and construct management expertise by year-round sports-based applications. The group prioritizes serving low- and moderate-income youth with a deal with younger individuals dwelling within the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain. All youth at YES are Boston residents, and we welcome all younger individuals no matter race, ethnicity, or financial standing. Acceptance into YES applications and sliding scale charges are based mostly on want and decided by family earnings and residency in YES’s focus neighborhoods. For extra info, go to YESKIDS.ORG
About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic Nationwide Governing Physique of ski and snowboard sports activities within the USA, based mostly in Park Metropolis, Utah. Began in 1905, the group now represents practically 240 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 groups: alpine, cross nation, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, Nordic mixed, ski leaping, Para alpine, and Para snowboard. Along with the elite groups, U.S. Ski & Snowboard additionally gives management and route for tens of hundreds of younger skiers and snowboarders throughout the USA, encouraging and supporting them in reaching excellence. By empowering nationwide groups, golf equipment, coaches, mother and father, officers, volunteers, and followers, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is dedicated to the development of its sports activities, athlete success, and the worth of staff. For extra info, go to www.usskiandsnowboard.org.
