This weekend, SOS Outreach, the nation's largest snowsports youth charity, kicks off their 15 th season of providing snowboarding and skiing to youth in need. Over 600 participants will at five mountain resorts this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday at Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Breckenridge and Eldora kids from Denver and Mountain youth agencies and schools will learn to ski or snowboard with SOS programs.

This season over 3,500 underserved kids will be enrolled in a multi-day program at 35 resorts in eight states nationwide. Over 2,500 youth will be served in Colorado alone. SOS provides a long-term relationship that has outcomes benefiting kids' lives beyond the sport.

SOS Outreach teaches underserved youth valuable life skills and core values through three programs: Learn to Ride (LTR), the University Program and the Diversity Program. "Our organization's focus is on sports-based development serving at-risk and underprivileged youth from fourth through 12 th grades," says Arn Menconi, Founder and Executive Director.

The LTR program features five days, where the youth receive professional on-snow instruction and are provided with complimentary snowsports gear. The LTR program focuses on one of the five core values each day: Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion. 300 LTR youth will be on the hill this weekend during 9 sessions at Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Eldora, Keystone and Vail.

The University program is part of a four-year curriculum, which incorporates community service and life skill workshops. The youth also have mentors known as Sherpas who help them set and achieve personal goals. 300 University participants will have their first ride days in Eagle and Summit Counties, Colorado.

The Diversity program is spearheaded by Vail Resorts to introduce Denver and mountain participants to the mountains. Vail Resorts identified SOS to be an administrator of their ongoing diversity effort. SOS incorporates a core value curriculum and long-term focus.