May 25, 2010 – The U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team and its supporting foundation, Women’s Ski Jumping USA, are hosting a second-annual fundraiser July 14 at the exquisite SKI Magazine Dream Home in Deer Valley, Utah.

The U.S. Women’s Team is ranked second in the world and boasts the current reigning World Champion and Junior World Championship bronze medalist. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association cut all funding to the team in May 2009 and WSJ-USA stepped up to assume all financial and administrative duties for the team.

In 2009 and early 2010, we made significant progress in the global fight to see women’s ski jumping added to the Olympic Winter Games program. Ski jumping is the only event in the Summer and Winter Games in which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not allow women to compete. The women have been told everything from “ski jumping is bad for women’s bodies from a medical point of view” to women’s ski jumping “lacks universality.”

Last year 15 women ski jumpers from around the world led a historic human rights legal battle in Canada that resulted in the British Columbia Supreme Court declaring that the IOC exhibited gender discrimination by excluding women’s ski jumping from the Vancouver 2010 Games. The IOC still refused to let them jump, but the court’s position, overwhelming media attention and support from the global public have resulted in important progress toward women being added to the Sochi 2014 Games.

WSJUSA works hard as a volunteer organization to provide the necessary financial support to pay for the women’s coach, travel expenses, training, equipment and junior developmental programs for young girls. The foundation needs to raise money to help these women continue to represent the U.S. in international competitions. Without the necessary funds, the U.S. women’s ski jumping program is in jeopardy of dissolving.

These talented women athletes are asking for support in their journey to fulfill their dreams to be Olympians.
WHAT: Join the Journey Benefit for the U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team
WHEN: 6-10 p.m., Wednesday, July 14
WHERE: SKI Magazine Dream Home, Deer Valley, Utah at the exclusive community of Deer Crest
WHY: Raise money to help team continue to train and compete in preparation for the 2011 World Championships in Oslo, Norway and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
FEATURES: Vancouver 2010 Olympians and past Olympians, members of the Women’s Ski Jumping Team, musical entertainment, gourmet food, wine, beer and drinks, silent and live auction.
COST: $200 per person – tickets may be purchased online here.

* WSJUSA is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation. The purchase of tickets and cash and auction donations are tax deductable.