STORY BY MEGAN DEMAREST PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY STRATTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Silent Angels
The Stratton Community Foundation organizes exciting fundraising events at Stratton Mountain that intertwine winter sports , charity , and fellowship in Southern Vermont
Nestled in the picturesque Stratton Village adjacent to the majestic Stratton Mountain Resort , the Stratton Community Foundation ( SCF ) has been a non-profit stronghold in Southern Vermont since 1996 . The organization was born out of love for the Stratton Mountain community , created by locals who cared deeply about improving the quality of life of friends , neighbors , and visitors alike . Though their home base is in Stratton Village , the footprint of the SCF extends well beyond , and includes 17 additional towns in the region . Their mission is as ambitious as it is meaningful and necessary , which is “ to address the challenges of poverty that stand between a child in-need and the opportunity to be healthy , safe , and educated .” To meet the needs of children and families in the area , SCF works daily throughout the year on programs and events that anchor its massive fundraising efforts . Two of their main annual events , # Shred4Nate and 24 Hours of Stratton , both take place at Stratton Mountain in the wintertime , both exemplify their connection to the region , and both have left an indelible mark on the community in more ways than one .
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the # Shred4Nate Memorial Alpine Race taking place on March 5 , 2023 . The event was named after and inspired by Nathan “ Nate ” M . Carreira , who had a passion for skiing and spent weekends with his family at Stratton during ski season . Nate ’ s friends and family started the race to bring awareness to teen mental health and to create a legacy for him that would touch generations to come . After Nate ’ s passing from suicide at the age of 15 , the compassion emanating from the community sparked an outpouring of donations , establishing the Foundation ’ s Nathan M . Carreira Endowment Fund . Today , the Endowment supports vital programs and services for teens , parents , and schools across Southern Vermont with the goal of building resilience , healthy behaviors , school-based suicide prevention policies , and a strong sense of community . Nate ’ s mother , Karen Carreira , has shared that “ everything that the Stratton Community Foundation does touches a child ’ s mental health .” SCF ’ s Executive Director , Tammy Mosher , agrees , saying “# Shred4Nate is intertwined with everything we do . We ’ ve really tried to be programmatic around it ,
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