If you are reading this, you are probably wishing for more snow. Be patient, it's coming. In fact, Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, opened for business yesterday with more than a foot of fresh snow at the top of the Superquad.

But if you are really into seeing wishes come true, check out the Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The stated goal of Make-A-Wish is "to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy." Most of these kids need all the joy, strength and hope they can get to help them through unimaginable times.

The ties between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the New England ski industry are deep and profound. Did you know, for example, that every current "Wisher" from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts receives a VIP pass that entitles them and an accompanying adult to a full day on the slopes with lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons at one of 32 different resorts across New England. That's offered with the cooperation of Ski NH (skinh.com), Ski Vermont (skivermont.com), Ski Maine (skimaine.com) and the New England Ski Areas Council.

Ski NH adopted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire (newhampshire.wish.org) as its official charity four seasons ago. They donate $5 from every $20 Ski NH Fifth Grade Snowsports Passport (skinh.com/FifthGrade.cfm)

directly to Make-A-Wish. On Nov. 19 at the Ski NH Boston Media reception, Ski NH presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire with a check for more than $10,000 from the winter 2008-09 passport sales. Over the past three seasons, Ski NH and families of fifth-graders have donated more than $20,000 in total. That kind of money makes a lot of wishes come true - and some of those wishes are for time on the slopes.

There's snow on the slopes. What are you waiting for?

The A list

Another big supporter of Make-A-Wish is the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Dew_Vertical_Challenge) series of free, fun races at ski resorts across New England. These dual-format GS races are a wonderful way to test your mettle in the gates, have fun and help a good cause. The raffles at the awards party at the end of each event directly support Make-A-Wish. Here's the '09-10 Vertical Challenge race schedule. Enjoy!

December

12: Okemo Mountain Resort (800-786-5366, okemo.com) in Ludlow, Vt.

19: Hunter Mountain (888-HUNTERMTN, huntermtn.com) in Hunter, N.Y.

20: Ski Butternut (413-528-2000, skibutternut.com) in Great Barrington, Mass.

30: Windham Mountain (800-754-9463, windhammountain.com) in Windham, N.Y.

January

9: Saddleback (866-918-2225, saddlebackmaine.com) in Rangeley, Maine

Single page