Heinz Dirtpipe

POW Programs

2010 Programs/Initiatives
Contributions made to Protect Our Winters are directed towards specific programs that meet our mission and have a marked impact on climate change.  Over 80% of every dollar raised is placed towards our programs.

1.  “POW Kids” In-School Events
Targeted to schools in mountain communities, and using pro athletes as influencers, this impactful multi-media event educates students about climate change solutions and inspires follow-through to make tangible gains in climate change via reduction, energy conservation and improved efficiency. Athletes will be able to lead this presentation at their local community or hometown schools, inspiring the next generation of change-agents.

Following the event, students and key faculty will also be challenged to develop a Carbon Action Plan outlining their strategy to measure and reduce their school’s carbon footprint and increase savings, competing against other schools to win prizes and the opportunity to present their strategy to their local Senator in Washington, DC.

2.  POW Community Fund/Monthly Grants
Protect Our Winters makes grants to community-level organizations globally each month. Since 2001, we have distributed over $150,000 to fund worthwhile organizations that have tangible reduction goals. We also mobilize and empower the POW community to submit their best ideas to us to fight climate change, voted online by our community and funded monthly by us.

3.  Global Activism
Throughout the year, we mobilize our community against numerous high profile initiatives and use our collective voice to heighten awareness and effect change.  We continually educate and mobilize the snow sports community against specific legislative issues, locally or on Capitol Hill.

4.  “Athletes United Against Climate Change”
Our goal is to unify all winter sports athletes to use their collective influence to change consumer behavior, speak with one voice and set examples in personal carbon reduction.  We provide athletes with the tools to leverage their influence to effect change globally.

5.  Resort Partnerships
Our partnership with resorts focuses on raising public awareness on-site, but also raising funds  for distribution to community-level climate change initiatives. Our primary objective is to engage the resort and raise funds to support local community environmental initiatives through a partnership with POW.

Funds are raised via proceeds from on-site events, ticket promotions, employee contributions, etc. and are then distributed to worthwhile local programs at the end of each season.   These projects could include educational initiatives at local schools, support of local renewable energy projects, community-based activism efforts, etc.  Together with each resort, we can have a great impact locally.

For more information, please contact Chris Steinkamp at chris@protectourwinters.org


2009/10 Achievements

  • Funded Utah Clean Energy, an organization that advances renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy technologies in Utah and the West.
  • Produced “Generations,” a short climate change film in partnership with the The North Face: online and retail partner distribution and screenings at all major US film festivals throughout 2010.
  • Led a snow sports coalition to Washington DC to premiere “Generations” on Capitol Hill and meet Senators and Congressmen in advance of the Senate vote on climate change, urging them to support clean energy legislation.
  • Kicked off the “Sixty Days” campaign in March , 2010.  This online campaign enabled our supporters to see where their Senator stood on climate change and to easily send a letter to urge them to support clean energy.  To date, thousands of letters have been send to Senators from throughout the global winter sports community.
  • Distributed an op-ed piece to over 60 U.S. mountain community newspapers to highlight climate change’s potential effects on local mountain community economies.
  • Funded first human-powered film,”My Own Two Feet”: global distribution, with film premiere fund raising events to support local climate change initiatives. Over 35 local programs supported and $75,000+ raised to-date.
  • Launched POW Riders Alliance – giving riders the ability to help offset climate change via a permanent rainforest protection contribution directly from POW website.
  • Partnered with 1% For The Planet, providing corporations the ability to redirect funds directly towards proven environmental recipients.
  • Funded three Solar 4R Schools project, helping to educate students and teachers on the functions and benefits of solar electric power through donation of a demonstration-scale photovoltaic solar system to the participating school.  In addition to producing clean, renewable energy, each school’s solar power system includes a curriculum package that uses the web-based, real-time data generated by each installation to provide students with a comprehensive, interactive learning experience.  POW has already installed panels on schools in Park City, UT, Jackson, WY and Stowe, VT.
  • Funded the development of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and bio-diesel power throughout the Gunnison, CO valley via a grant to the Office of Resource Efficiency.
  • Grant to Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies to fund the Senator Beck Basis climate change indicator study.
  • Grant to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Center to support the development of a climate change teaching curriculum, to be distributed online by POW in 2010.
  • Grant to the Park City Foundation to fund Park City Green, a community climate change website, providing citizens and businesses with innovative and engaging ways  to measure and improve their carbon footprint.
  • Launched co-branded sustainable products developed with Union bindings, Vans, Spark R&D, Venture Snowboards.
  • Launched the POW Kids School program at the Manzanita Elementary School, Oakland, CA.