JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club (JHSC) today announced it will cancel the in-person component of the Thai Me Up Black Tie, Blue Jeans Ski Ball due to the rising Covid-19 numbers in Teton County.
The Ski Ball was scheduled for September 25. After consulting with Teton County Public Health, organizers said it was apparent that hosting a 400-plus person indoor event in less than a month was not best for the health of the community. JHSC made the difficult decision to pivot and focus on two fundraising components of the Ski Ball which can be held virtually—the Silent Auction and the Grand Raffle.
“This was an incredibly hard decision to make,” said JHSC executive director, Ali Sehnert. “After considering all options it became very clear to our team that canceling was the right choice. Although the fundraising capacity of the event will take a hit, we hope that those who planned to attend the party will continue to support JHSC through bidding on the Silent Auction packages and purchasing tickets for the Grand Raffle.”
Typically, the Ski Ball Silent Auction annually hosts more than a hundred packages in nine categories: Adventure & Travel, Art & Jewelry, Gear, Good Times, Jackson Hole Summer Fun, Jackson Hole Winter Fun, Professional Athletes, Taking Care of Business, and Wellness & Beauty.
The 2021 Grand Raffle trip is a package annually donated by the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole and their partner properties around the world. For 2021, this trip of a lifetime is valued at over $14,000 and includes roundtrip airfare for two people plus three nights at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania, as well as three nights at the Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita.
“Our team has decided to focus on our energy on making the Silent Auction and Grand Raffle as successful as possible and will not be planning a full virtual event as we did in 2020,” stated Jeff Moran, JHSC’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Although canceling the party this close to the scheduled date adds extra challenges, we’re grateful that a large part of the Ski Ball can be marketed and hosted online.”
Funds raised through the Ski Ball’s Silent Auction and Grand Raffle allows local kids of all financial backgrounds to become champions in both sport and life.
