'Chairs for Charity' raises over $146K

SANDPOINT —Thanks to the generosity from friends and fans of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the resort’s “Chairs for Charity” program raised over $146K for a variety of local non-profit organizations in the greater Sandpoint area.

“The response to the program was overwhelming,” says Family and Activities Director, Dani Demmons. “We knew we were asking a fairly substantial amount for each chair, but the community really rallied behind “Chairs for Charity” and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

The program benefited a variety of local Sandpoint non-profit organizations including, but not limited to, groups supporting land protection & the outdoors, animal services, education, the arts, youth sports, healthcare services and community support services.

According to Demmons, the allotted inventory of chairs has been spoken for with several other chairs being awarded to various organizations for their own fundraising auctions. “Some of those chairs have yet to be auctioned off yet so there are still chances for people to not only win a Snow Ghost chair but also to continue giving back financially to the local non-profits,” added Demmons. “We are so proud to have been an integral part of this wonderful and generous display of community support.”

“Chairs for Charity” has its genesis in the resort’s planned chairlift replacement project settto start this summer.

When a number of people interested in the chairs, Schweitzer Mountain Resort officails decided that the best thing to do with the old double-seat chairs is lift up local charities.

“We have had a lot of people interested in having a part of Schweitzer’s history for themselves and we see this as a great opportunity for our local non-profits to benefit from this well-loved legend,” Demmons said at the time.