News

Eagle, Colo., March 24, 2025 — The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 is proud to announce an expanded lineup of engaging and educational summer camps designed specifically for middle school students. The 2025 summer program features three new week-long camps in June and early July, offering diverse experiences from sports to culinary arts and outdoor adventures.  … Continued

The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 Magic Bus mobile preschool program has achieved a Level 4 rating from Colorado Shines, the state’s official quality rating system for early care and learning programs. This score – rated on a scale of one to five – places the innovative, free mobile preschool program on wheels among the highest-rated … Continued

The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 is intensifying efforts to combat youth violence and promote student success through enhanced family-centered initiatives.   YouthPower365 has secured a $1 million federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention enabling the hiring of a full-time Family Engagement Coordinator at YouthPower365 and a Student Support Specialist at Eagle … Continued

Students are part of YouthPower365’s culinary club Eagle County, Colo., Feb. 8, 2024 — Among the renowned chefs in town for the Beaver Creek Winter Culinary Weekend was a group of local middle school students. The students, all members of Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365’s middle school culinary club, joined Santosh Koradi, executive chef at the … Continued

Partnership between YouthPower365, Vail Valley Partnership, and Eagle County School District, wins $971,600 to help more young Coloradans pursue meaningful careers Eagle County, Colo., Oct. 25, 2021 — ZOMALAB, in partnership with the Colorado Governor’s Office, Colorado Succeeds, Colorado Thrives, SemperVirens, Skillful a Markle initiative, and Strada Education Network today announced the Eagle County Collaborative … Continued

Avon, Colo., May 14, 2020 — The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 today announced adjustments to its summer plans. Education activity will continue for the most part, with some exceptions as well as modifications. “We understand that this is a time where it is difficult to plan ahead,” said Sarah Johnson, Senior Vice President of Education … Continued

April 28, 2020 — The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 education programming brings year-round education and enrichment to thousands of children and families throughout Eagle County, from pre-school through K-12 to college and career-readiness. In light of the latest Eagle County Public Health Order, and its three-phased model for recovery, YouthPower365 has adjusted its plans for … Continued

We are very excited to introduce you to the newest members to join the YouthPower365 team. Euginnia Seyferth as our new Director of Development for YouthPower365. Euginnia moved to the Vail Valley 15 years ago to go to work for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV). Euginnia held several positions at SSCV, but the majority … Continued

Dear Families of Eagle County Students: Your children need you now more than ever Social distancing is hard for all of us, but it’s especially difficult for children and teenagers.  At this time, it is critical to keep your children and teens home and from gathering in groups. Unfortunately, this means no play-dates, no sleep-overs, … Continued

The Why of Social Distancing – This is going to be hard, but it’s the only way to beat COVID-19 and it’s all up to YOU Messages: Why Public Health Orders:  (1) Science has shown when we social distance it slows the spread of the disease and keeps our hospitals from being overwhelmed. (2) Our … Continued

***Declaración pública*** La Junta de Directores, el liderazgo y el personal de la Fundación Vail Valley ponen la salud y el bienestar de nuestros empleados y sus familias, nuestros seguidores, invitados y las personas a las que servimos en nuestros eventos, lugares y programas, como nuestra prioridad principal. Con efectiva inmediata, las Escuelas Públicas del … Continued

***Public statement*** The Board of Directors, leadership and staff of the Vail Valley Foundation place the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families, our supporters, guests and the people we serve across our many events, venues and programs, as a top priority. Effective immediately, Eagle County Public Schools have closed through April 8th. … Continued

March 12, 2020 The Board of Directors, leadership and staff of the Vail Valley Foundation place the health and well-being of our employees and their families, our supporters, guests and the people we serve across our many events, venues and programs, as a top priority. Effective immediately, the Eagle County Department of Public Health and … Continued

Overwhelmed with everything you need to do before heading to college? Familiarizing yourself with everything on this list can help make the process easier. ✔ Contact Your Roommate That first conversation is pivotal for getting to know each other, for building your relationship as roommates, and for figuring out who’s going to be bringing what. … Continued

Homesickness is pining for home and family during extended absence. It stems from the loss of security, comfort and familiarity – and it’s quite common among college freshmen. A 2016 study by researchers at the Higher Education Research Institute at University of California-Los Angeles found that 71 percent of college freshmen reported feelings of homesickness, … Continued

Welcome to the Big Top: Celebrity dancers announced for 2019 Star Dancing Gala Vote for your favorite local celebrity dancer now to benefit YouthPower365 at the Star Dancing Gala slated for July 16  EAGLE, Colo., May 14, 2019 — Step right up for our Valley’s youth at YouthPower365’s annual Star Dancing Gala. The popular event, hosted … Continued

Avon, Colorado, April 23, 2019 – Author and journalist Sarah Smarsh came from generations of impoverished Kansas wheat farmers: hardworking, no-nonsense folks who worked themselves to the bone, yet struggled to pay the bills, could not afford healthcare, and often were forced to move their children from school to school. She became the first in … Continued

5th annual event brought springtime fashions to the runway at the Vail Marriott March 18, 2019 Although it was still a winter wonderland outside, spring was in the air at the Girl PowHER Fashion show at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort on Friday, which also happened to be International Women’s Day. The mission of Girl … Continued

Sept. 28, 2018, Avon, Colo. – YouthPower365 today announced new dates for the PwrHrs Extended Learning Conference. Presented by YouthPower365 with support from National Afterschool Association and Afterschool Alliance, the education conference will focus on the afterschool and summertime education issues, with a special focus on rural and resort communities.   The event will now take place Nov. 13-15, … Continued

September 19, 2018 WHY I’M A MENTOR I know there are a lot of people out there who will read this and hear the call to do something more for their community. A lot of us want to give back, and so many of us do, but I’m not sure there’s anything I do that … Continued

Jaimee Rindy Special to the Daily August 26, 2018   AVON — An endless summer is every child’s dream, but for many parents, it can also create added stress. That’s because a long summer can be a huge financial strain, as parents try to figure out what to do with the kids while they go … Continued

Daily staff report [email protected] June 21, 2018 Lift the curtain and set the stage for Eagle County youth at the 10th annual YouthPower365 Star Dancing Gala. The highly anticipated gala is being re-made with a Shakespearian twist, promising to surprise and delight attendees with amazing performances when it returns to the Vail Valley Jet Center … Continued

Daily staff report [email protected] March 16, 2018 VAIL — If you’re going to do good, then it’s good to look good doing it. On Friday, March 9, YouthPower365’s Girl PowHER fashion show transformed the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Lionshead Village into a dazzling runway inspired by New York Fashion Week, with high-end looks modeled … Continued

Randy Wyrick February 9, 2018 AVON — The Vail Valley Foundation announced three new scholarships for local high school graduates. The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 Dollars for Scholars scholarship program now also includes: • The Tom Bashford Dream Builders Scholarship. • The Explorers Scholarship • The Vail Heath Employee Dependent Scholarship. TOM BASHFORD DREAM BUILDERS … Continued

Tricia Swenson January 4, 2018 Keep your eyes peeled for a big, colorful Magic Bus cruising throughout Eagle County. YouthPower365 just dispatched their newest mobile preschool vehicle to serve youth ages 3 to 5 who don’t attend a traditional preschool. Many parents, kids, donors and supporters of YouthPower365 gathered at Avon Elementary School on Wed., … Continued

Randy Wyrick January 3, 2018 The Vail Valley Foundation’s new Magic Bus is 10 tons of mobile wonder and learning … and an on-board restroom. You don’t need a special license to drive the new mobile preschool, but you do need a special heart. JOURNEY WITH GERALD CONTINUES Across the front is emblazoned “Journey with … Continued

Philip Qualman Valley Voices November 15, 2017 Eagle County Schools created the CareerX program in 2016 based on a simple idea: Provide high school students with opportunities to explore careers. That simple idea has inspired many community organizations to jump into the water with us to give our valley’s youth a vision for their futures … Continued

By Randy Wyrick — AVON — Ideas can start on white boards or cocktail napkins, but often stay right where they started or land in the trash bin. They seem like a good idea at the time, yet nothing is done to bring them to fruition. But once in a while, those ideas grow into … Continued

By Randy Wyrick — AVON — More than two decades ago, Mark Smith — the Smith in Slifer Smith & Frampton — was riding his bicycle when he spotted a bunch of kids doing … basically nothing. Smith kept riding, and started thinking. His mental wheels turned as fast as his bicycle wheels, and before … Continued

Senator Mike Johnston to emcee night of ‘Oh the Place We’ll Go’ to benefit YouthPower365 Avon, Colo., April 2017 — The Vail Valley is a destination for many thousands around the world, but what about the thousands of young people who grow up here? What destinations await them in their future? The highly-anticipated Star Dancing … Continued

Avon, Colo., Aug. 15 — For seven years, Sowing Seeds has introduced young students in Eagle County to the world of gardening, healthy eating and environmental stewardship. Stem by stem, leaf by leaf, hundreds of children have learned a valuable lesson: that time, patience, and constant care create amazing results. Since its inception, Sowing Seeds … Continued