High Fives Foundation is a Lake Tahoe-based, national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[1] Located in Truckee, California, the foundation provides grants for rehabilitation support to athletes with life-altering injuries as a result of mountain sports. It also promotes awareness of injury prevention.[1][2] Athletes such as Nick Fairall and Julia Mancuso are involved with the foundation.[2][3]
| Named after | High Fives ski event |
|---|---|
| Founder | Roy Tuscany, Executive director |
| Type | Non-governmental organization, non-profit organization |
| Registration no. | 26-4275773 |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization |
| Purpose | Human care, injury recovery, safety education |
| Headquarters | Truckee, California |
| Location |
|
Region | Lake Tahoe |
| Affiliations | Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Achieve Tahoe, National Ski Area Association, SIA Snow Sports, Squaw Valley Institute, Flyin Ryan Hawks Ambassador, Shane McConkey Foundation |
Budget (FY 2015) | 1,130,600 |
Revenue (FY 2015) | $802, 000 |
Staff (2015) | 7 |
History
High Fives Foundation was founded in 2009 by Roy Tuscany. Tuscany suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in immediate lower body paralysis while skiing in 2006.[4] In 2008, Tuscany hosted his first event called High Fives, which was a skiing contest for the best 540 rotation at the Sugar Bowl Resort.[5] The event-based fundraising format became the primary revenue source.[6] In August 2016, High Fives Foundation announced the Stowe Country Club in Vermont as the host for its second annual charity golf tournament.[7][8]
Programs and initiatives
The foundation's Empowerment Fund provides grants to disabled winter action sports athletes and athletes recovering from life-altering injuries.[9] The foundation expanded its mission to help people injured in summer mountain sports.[10]
In 2011, the High Fives Foundation along with action sports professional J.T. Holmes created the BASICS Program Services (Being Aware Safe In Critical Situations).[5] The program has produced five safety education documentaries, which are shown in schools, ski clubs, and to industry professionals around the country. Decorated freeskier Daron Rahlves is a program mentor.[11]
The CR Johnson Healing Center is a 2,400 square foot training facility in Truckee, California, that provides resources for athletes in the process of rehabilitation such as physical therapy, acupuncture, active release techniques, and personal training.[12]
High Fives Foundation created the Military to the Mountains program which enables United States military veterans injured during tour of duty to ski in Squaw Valley.[13] In 2016, the foundation helped its 100th athlete with the Military to the Mountains program.[13] In May 2016, High Fives Foundation received a $150,000 donation from Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows for its Military to the Mountains program.[14]
Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Fives Fish: Adaptive Fishing Trip[15] |
| 2016 | QUADRILYZED: The Journey of Jason Abraham[16] |
| 2015 | Full Circle Project |
| 2015 | Beyond the Veil: The High Fives Foundation |
| 2015 | Lyndsay Slocumb Interview High Fives Foundation |
| 2015 | Marines to the Mountains |
| 2015 | Lottery of Life, The Jocelyn Judd Story |
| 2014 | The Edge of Impossible[17] |