NORTH CONWAY, NH—Cranmore Mountain Resort’s Meisters Race Program celebrated its 51st year during the 2021-22 season and the Pay2Play program raised some of the highest single-season donations totals in the history of the program.
During the Mountain Meisters Race league, racers take 2 runs through the course. The Pay2Play program allows racers to take a third run through the racecourse for a $5 donation to a pre-determined non-profit. Since the program started during the 2018 season, Cranmore has donated over $20,000 through the Pay2Play program.
This season, there were 9 Pay2Play opportunities for racers, with two weeks at a time dedicated to one non-profit. The first two weeks went to the MWV Trails Association, who are working to build and maintain multiple-use trails and recreation paths within the Mount Washington Valley area to provide residents and visitors with opportunities for safe, family-oriented recreation and transportation. Cranmore raised $622 during these first weeks.
End 68 Hours of Hunger is a non-profit which confronts the approximately 68 hours of hunger that some children in school experience between lunch on Fridays and the free breakfasts they receive on Mondays. Weeks 3 and 4 raised $800 dollars for the program to help children in our community, one of the highest single-season totals in Pay2Play history.
Weeks 5 and 6 went to the Pope Memorial Library in North Conway Village. Meisters raised $855 for the library, which recently underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion, beginning in the fall of 2019. They were able to expand the historic building and offer more amenities to their patrons. The building is named for Lyman Pope, a generous benefactor of the project.
Starting Point is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic and sexual violence through social change, education, and quality services for victims. Cranmore raised $720 during weeks 8 and 9 for the local organization. Jennifer Moore, Cranmore’s Finance Director, serves as the Treasurer of the Board.
The last race of every season (week 10), benefits Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation. Racers are allowed to take unlimited runs on this day, for a $5 (or more) donation. Jen’s Friends raises and disburses funds to clients diagnosed with cancer to help provide financial and human resources to assist clients and families with care and more. Week 10 raised the largest single-season total in the history of the Pay2Play program, with $1,500.
The 10-week Mountain Meister series hosts approximately 20+ teams and over 300 racers throughout the season. Mountain Meisters is open to skiers, snowboarders, and telemark skiers of all ability levels, ages 21 and up.