Opportunity
The Harris Hill Ski Jump had been part of the Brattleboro community since 1922. Unfortunately, conditions had deteriorated over the years. Even though the ski jump held a huge amount of cultural importance—including as the site of an annual tournament held during the Brattleboro Winter Carnival—the town wasn’t able to raise the $350,000 needed to rebuild the jump.
Pat Howell, president of the organization, had strategized with Brattleboro officials to find a way forward. But by late 2007, Pat had to put out a press release reporting that the upcoming tournament would be canceled due to insufficient funds for the rebuild.
Insight
The Manton Foundation recognizes that community preservation is important to understanding our history and ourselves. The ski jump was a fixture that helped locals build memories and connections across generations. Plus, individual organizations like this can meaningfully shape the economy and structure of a local community; if the ski jump folded, there would be a trickle of associated losses.
The ski jump also hosted events, and until then, hadn’t been able to follow FIS (International Ski Federation) guidelines. A rebuild with those standards in mind could help raise visibility and viability for the site in the future.
Impact
The Manton Foundation responded to the press release with an offer to help bridge the funding gap. After funding from the Manton Foundation was approved, construction got underway; by February 2009, the Harris Hill Ski Jump reopened. 8,000 members of the public joined Pat, her volunteer team, and the Manton Foundation trustees to celebrate the return of this community icon. The decision to follow those rigorous FIS guidelines during the rebuild proved to be productive: Harris Hill was the first ski jump in the United States to host an FIS-sanctioned event, which further raised its profile.
In 2014, the trustees approved an additional $500,000 endowment gift. This was designed to generate yearly income that could fund future annual maintenance, preparing this cultural hub to serve the community for years to come.
Explore the Harris Hill Ski Jump Website
