BEND, Hours. (KTVZ) — Mt. The Bachelor is pleased to announce Beneficiaries of the Play Forever grant for 2024/25. Play Forever is the commitment of Mt. Bachelor to protect the environment and support the community.

This fall, the resort launched applications for three philanthropic initiatives: a $25,000 grant for the Play Forever Fund, Forever Thursday and the ongoing Play It Forward pass matching campaign.

Mt. The Bachelor received more than 70 applications, which were vetted by its Play Forever committee, with feedback from staff across all departments. The Bethlehem Inn was named the recipient of the $25,000 grant.

“Mt. Bachelor’s generous donation of $25,000 comes at such a crucial time, and we are deeply grateful for their support,” said Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director of Bethlehem Inn. “With the challenges of rising food prices, harsh winter weather approaching and significant hardships for many in our community, this contribution will help us continue to provide essential meals, safe shelter and hope to those in need. As we celebrate 25 years of service, more than 1.5 million meals served and 500,000 nights of safe sleep, we are reminded how much we rely on the compassion of partners like Mt. Bachelor to make this vital work possible.”

this year, Play Forever Thursdays will feature a diverse group of non-profit organizations based in Central Oregon, some of which Mt. Bachelor has enjoyed long-term partnerships, including Discover your Forest and Oregon Adaptive Sports.

Play Forever Thursdays is an initiative that offers discounted lift tickets for $99 every Thursday in January, February and March, with a portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales that day going to another non-profit organization. Beneficiary organizations are invited to the resort on their Thursday to set up a table in the West Village Lodge and connect with guests and staff of Mt. Bachelor to share information about their programs, services and mission.

In 2023/24, Play Forever Thursdays generated $36,000. Guests can purchase Play Forever Thursday tickets at Mt. Bachelor’s website.

Thursday’s schedule 2024/25 Play Forever

• January 2: Oregon Adaptive Sports
• January 9: Discover your Forest
• Jan. 16: Central Oregon Community College Foundation
• January 23: Central Oregon Avalanche Center
• February 6: Brightside Animal Shelter
• February 13: Deschutes River Conservancy
• Feb. 20: Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend
• February 27: The family kitchen
• March 6: OUT Central Oregon
• March 13: NatureConnect Central Oregon
• March 20: The Giving Plate
• March 27: Think Wild

Guests can also choose to Play It Forward and donate $1 or more when they purchase any ticket or Mt. Bachelor online. 100% of guest contributions are donated to local non-profit organizations selected by Mt. employees. Bachelor, and Mt. The Bachelor matches a portion of all guest donations.

From 2022/23, Mt. The Bachelor and guests donated more than $95,000 to the Central Oregon community through the Play It Forward season ticket sales matching campaign.

2024/25 Play It Forward programme:

• Oct/Nov/Dec: Furnish Hope/Family Kitchen/Giving Plate
• January: Central Oregon Avalanche Center
• February: The Father’s Group
• March: Ronald McDonald House of Bend
• April/May: Environmental Center/Deschutes River Conservancy/Deschutes Land Trust
• June/July/Aug: Deschutes Trails Coalition/Central Oregon Trail Alliance
• September: Central Oregon NatureConnect

To learn more about the Mt. Bachelor’s Play Forever, visit www.mtbachelor.com/playforever