Athletes

The Special Olympics Winterfest in Incline Village will raise funds for Northern California and Nevada athletes. Courtesy photo

Special Olympics Celebrity Winterfest 2010 Comes to Incline Village

March 5 to 7

Press Release
* Web Exclusive *
Published: February 22, 2010

Celebrity Winterfest®, a weekend-long high profile Special Olympics fundraiser event, will be taking place in Incline Village on March 5 to 7. Proceeds from the weekend’s popular event will provide funding for more than 17,000 developmentally disabled athletes across Nevada and Northern California who rely on donations to receive free sports training and competition throughout the year.

Celebrity Winterfest® will kick off with a private guest reception on Friday, March 5, at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe for the introduction of the Special Olympics Athletes, celebrities and other Winterfest participants.

On Saturday, March 6, the public is welcome and encouraged to join the festivities at Diamond Peak. The Corporate Ski Challenge will begin at 10 a.m. The corporate ski event will feature 12 corporate teams paired with a Special Olympics athlete and a celebrity skier in a dual giant slalom race on Diamond Peak’s Show Off run. Come cheer on the teams while watching the event from deck at the Base Lodge. Results from the day will be announced at an awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, where guests will be treated to entertainment, dinner and a live auction. Awards will be given for the Best-Dressed Team, Fastest Skier, Best Spill, and the top three teams.

The event concludes on Sunday with “Plungefest,” an opportunity for the local Tahoe community to raise additional funds for Special Olympics by taking a quick dip in the chilly waters of Lake Tahoe, along with invited celebrities and corporate teams. The Plungefest will take place at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Private Beach. To sign up for the Plungefest, go to www.celebritywinterfest.com

“Diamond Peak is honored to be selected by Special Olympics as the home mountain for such an important and meaningful event,” said Ed Youmans, General Manager of Diamond Peak Ski Resort. “We look forward to involving the entire community in making this a huge success for Special Olympics and especially for the athletes and families they serve.”

“It is a sincere honor to have the opportunity to host Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada's Celebrity Winterfest®,” remarked Mark Pardue, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “We’re looking forward to welcoming all of the athletes and participants, and we will make every effort to ensure their time in Lake Tahoe’s beautiful Incline Village will be enjoyable, rewarding and inspiring.”

“Incline Village is an ideal community to host our Celebrity Winterfest,” said Rick Collett, CEO and President of Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada. “We have a great mountain at Diamond Peak and wonderful accommodations at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe, which are sure to be a hit among our corporate ski teams, athletes and guests. Best of all, the community at Incline clearly have a passion for our athletes, and understand what it takes to put on a memorable event benefiting so many in Nevada and Northern California."

The 2010 Celebrity Winterfest® is sponsored and hosted by Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino and Diamond Peak Ski Resort.

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