Mikaela Shiffrin Skis with Salida Girls to Boost ShareWinter Fundraising

What does it cost to get a kid from Salida onto the snow, and why is Mikaela Shiffrin the one holding the checkbook?

It costs about $500. That is the price tag ShareWinter CEO Constance Beverley put on a single child’s full season of access to lessons, gear, lift tickets, and transportation. It is a small number for a luxury sport, but for families across the U.S., it is still a barrier.

That is the math behind the $1 million ShareWinter fundraising initiative. And it is the reason Shiffrin spent Saturday at Copper Mountain, not chasing World Cup points, but hanging out with 40 young girls from Chaffee County’s elevateHER program.

The event, dubbed “The GOAT Gives Back,” was invite-only. Private. Exclusive. But the goal was to remove barriers. Shiffrin, the Edwards-based six-time overall World Cup champion, helped kick off the drive. She already helped raise nearly $500,000 for the organization in 2025. Now, she is pushing for the rest.

The setting was Center Village. The time was 9:30 a.m. Shiffrin walked into a packed conference room. The audience was a mix of 10- to 14-year-olds. They held tilted heads. They stared with reverent silence. They absorbed every word.

Most were members of elevateHER. The organization launched in 2017. Its mission is straightforward: foster self-worth and grit in young women. They do this through mentoring, outdoor adventure, and holistic wellness.

Frankie, 14, from Salida, explained the rhythm of the program. In the fall, they mountain bike and rock climb. In the summer, they raft. In the winter, they ski. She is part of the leadHERship program, which meets monthly during the school year and weekly over the summer.

Lucia Downing, also from Salida, described the group as a welcoming space. You meet people who share your interests. Anabelle Soltz, a Salida Montessori Charter School student, agreed.

“I really like the community because everyone is so supporting,” Soltz said. “You never feel like you’re not good enough at all when you’re in this group.”

That confidence is the product. The skiing is the vehicle.

Beverley, ShareWinter’s CEO, noted the irony of the guest of honor. “Because it’s a little bit of a ladies shred fest here, we thought it would be very fun to get to ski with, I don’t know, the best Alpine skier of all-time!”

Shiffrin didn’t just pose. She skied. She watched girls ski past her. She signed a Vail Daily cover. She talked about how raising money impacts kids like them.

“It’s been really cool to see how raising money for ShareWinter helps impact kids like you to get outside and get into snow sports,” she said.

The financial goal is clear. $500 per child. The fundraising target is $1 million. That means 2,000 kids. Full seasons. Lessons. Gear. Tickets. Transport.

Amalia McNeirney, a 13-year-old Team Monarch skier, was waiting in the wings. She said she was most looking forward to getting on the slopes with the GOAT.

The short version: elevateHER removes the social and confidence barriers for girls in Chaffee County. ShareWinter removes the financial barriers for youth nationwide. Shiffrin is the bridge.

The question isn’t whether the money will be raised. It’s whether the system that makes skiing so expensive will ever change enough to make $500 the standard, not the exception.

Beverley says it takes $500 to support one child. The initiative aims to scale that. But until the cost of lift tickets and gear drops for everyone, you need a superstar to subsidize the access.

Shiffrin is doing it. Again.