Vail Resorts chooses Colorado Red Cross for flood-relief contribution

Energy companies follow suit with corporate donations

Vail Resorts, which late last week announced an immediate $100,000 contribution to flood-relief efforts, decided on Wednesday to allocate that money to the Colorado Red Cross. The ski company will also donate $1 for every season ski pass sold in Colorado this season.

“Given the magnitude of this historic disaster in Colorado and the vast number of people who have been evacuated and need immediate assistance, we have made the decision to [donate] to the Colorado Red Cross to assist with flood relief efforts,” Vail Resorts Chairman and CEO Rob Katz said in a press release.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our friends, neighbors and employees in the Boulder and broader Colorado communities during this difficult time. There have been so many lives affected by these devastating floods, but Coloradans have tremendous spirit, drive and compassion and together we can rebuild our vibrant communities.”

Katz is a resident of Boulder, one of the hardest hit Colorado cities, and the company is headquartered on the Front Range in Broomfield. Tara Schoedinger, the mayor of Jamestown -- perhaps the single-most flood-impacted Colorado town – is a Vail Resorts employee.

“I’m overwhelmed with the level of support from Colorado companies that continue to step up during times of disaster,” said Gino Greco, CEO of the American Red Cross of Colorado. “The support of generous partners like Vail Resorts enables us to do our job in taking care of our communities during these times of extraordinary need.”

Go to the Red Cross website to make a personal donation.

On Saturday, Vail Resorts will hold its annual, company-wide volunteer Echo Day, with employees working on community projects in 10 different areas around the country. More than 350 employees and their families from the corporate office in Broomfield will now donate their volunteer hours to help with restoration efforts in Boulder County.

Houston-based Noble Energy, the largest oil and gas producer in the flood zone, announced on Tuesday it’s making a $500,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross Colorado Relief Fund and a commitment to match employee donations up to $1,000 per employee.

“The recent floods have had a serious impact on Colorado communities. We will stand with the state of Colorado to support the near-term relief and the long-term recovery efforts,” Noble Chairman and CEO Charles Davidson said in a press release. “In addition to our financial support through the Red Cross, our employees are helping their neighbors by purchasing and delivering emergency supplies to local shelters and throughout the community.”

Noble has reportedly experienced infrastructure damage, including natural gas releases from two wellheads. The company estimates it has “shut in,” or stopped production, at between 5 and 10 percents of its wells in Weld County.

Houston-based Anadarko, another major operator in Weld County – where there are more than 20,000 active oil and gas wells – also announced a $500,000 contribution to flood relief efforts.

“The funds are being allocated to The Community Foundation serving Weld County, The American Red Cross – Colorado Flood Victims Relief Fund, United Way Foothills Relief Fund, and United Way Larimer County Relief Fund,” the company announced on its website Wednesday.

Anadarko on Wednesday became the first operator to officially report an oil spill resulting from the flooding.

Colorado Sen. Mark Udall on Wednesday sent out a press release warning of home repair, insurance and charitable-giving scams.

"The tragic flooding that has damaged or destroyed more than 19,000 homes and left scores of our friends, relatives and neighbors homeless has brought out the very best in Coloradans," Udall said.

"Unfortunately, natural disasters like this also provide scam artists and criminals an opening to defraud disaster victims. I urge all Coloradans to be extra cautious during these times and to do their due diligence before contracting for home repairs or donating to charities."

Udall's office urged people to check out charities through the Better Business Bureau at www.give.org or www.checkthecharity.com. Consumers who believe they've been scammed, or who have encountered an organization or person trying to defraud Coloradans, are urged to contact the Colorado Attorney General's office at (800) 222-4444 or www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint.

For anyone interested in helping with flood relief, the State of Colorado has pooled resources and posted them at www.HelpColoradoNow.org.

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Northstar	n/a	n/a	closed
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Purgatory	n/a	n/a	closed
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Ski Cooper	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Granby	n/a	n/a	closed
Snowmass	n/a	n/a	closed
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Sunlight	n/a	n/a	closed
Telluride	n/a	n/a	closed
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