In mid-August, Stefany, a local Latina teenager, made a strong impression at a dance studio: she has talent! Three months prior, Stefany had attended the inaugural Solomon Fund registration event where she signed up for a summer dance camp at Ballet West. At camp, she rediscovered her passion for dancing, excelled in performing and made friends with her fellow campers. At the conclusion of the four-day camp, Stefany knew she wanted more – she wanted to continue to dance. Through support from the Solomon Fund and Ballet West, her aspirations came to fruition. Stefany now participates in one of Ballet West’s accelerated year-round programs and will continue to dance throughout the school year.
The registration event held in late April gave Latino families the opportunity to connect with local sports and recreation organizations. Park City Community Foundation translated their materials into Spanish and provided interpreters to help with communication. Of the more than 300 Latino families with children enrolled in Park City elementary schools, more than 100 families attended our first registration event, and 113 children signed up to participate in summer activities. By continuing to bring together local organizations and the Latino community, Park City Community Foundation’s Solomon Fund is impacting lives one player and one dancer at a time.
Park City Community Foundation’s Solomon Fund aims to address several barriers that currently keep kids from participating: communication and outreach, transportation, and scholarships and gear. The Solomon Fund facilitates access to sports and recreation, giving Latino kids opportunities to play together with their peers and become more involved in our very active community. The Community Foundation staff working on the Fund – Diego Zegarra and Sarah MacCarthy – have brought together a coalition of people and partner organizations to realize our goal. Through scholarship grants, translations into Spanish, direct outreach to families, and help with gear, the Community Foundation is using their expertise to change the long-term landscape to make greater Park City a more inclusive, integrated, and complete community.
Your generosity enables us to lead initiatives like this one, thank you! Check back for updates on Stefany.