At SnowPals, we facilitate snow sports life-long friendships, and we encourage members to volunteer their expertise with nonprofits whose core mission and charitable work align with their core values. If you’d like to nominate a nonprofit to be featured, please contact .
Twice a month, we spotlight two notable 501(c)3 nonprofits locally and globally:
For February 2025, in our spotlight feature is Achieve Tahoe located at Alpine Meadows Mountain Resort, 2680 Alpine Meadows Rd B3686, Alpine Meadows, CA 96146
Achieve Tahoe’s Organization’s Mission Statement:
“Provide affordable, inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health, confidence, and independence.”
Achieve Tahoe was started in 1967 by Jim Winthers, a World War II Veteran of the 10th Mountain Division and Director of the Soda Springs Ski School. He brought together a group of Vietnam Veterans with disabilities and they taught themselves how to ski and found ways to adapt equipment to do so. At the time, adaptive sports equipment did not exist. The experience was so positive, Jim felt that the community could benefit from a formalized program that helped more people. We are proud to be the founding chapter of MoveUnited (formerly Disabled Sports USA) and have employees and volunteers who were the pioneers in the adaptive sports world.
Today, Achieve Tahoe provides year-round outdoor recreation activities for people with cognitive, sensory, and physical disabilities. We can serve just about anyone with any disability. We focus on health, confidence, and independence so that the experience people have with us is long-lasting and carries over into other areas of their life. Read more about Achieve Tahoe.
Watch a YouTube video about Achieve Tahoe
Learn more about how to volunteer at https://www.achievetahoe.org/participate/
Make a tax deductible donation at https://achievetahoe.networkforgood.com/projects/245639-2025-ability-challenge
For February 2025, our global 501(c)3 not for profit spotlight feature goes to the Mercy Centre of Bangkok, Thailand
Here’s the backstory of how the Mercy Centre got on SnowPals’ notable nonprofit organization radar, Tim, SnowPals’ founder is passionate about snow sports but in the off-season, he likes to travel to learn about other cultures, places and how history shapes a city’s present day so when he travels to other parts of the world, he noticed firsthand the huge disparity between the poor and the well-to-do in society.
In December 2024, Tim was traveling in Thailand and recalled hearing sadly poignant stories of the forgotten slums of Bangkok which prompted him to ask himself: what can he do to help? He didn’t know where to start so he did a quick Google search for a non-profit charity that was founded to help the poor children, women and families living in the slums of Bangkok. His Google search led him to the Human Development Foundation aka the Mercy Centre and Orphanage located at 100/11 Kae-ha Klong Toey 4, Klong Toey in Bangkok, Thailand 10110. He emailed them to inquire about visiting the Mercy Centre to learn more about what they do to help empower the children of poor families and single moms, and he recorded a video of his visit so he can share what this nonprofit does to improve the lives of the poor people in this part of the world.
The following day, Tim received a reply from John Vogel who volunteers full-time at the Mercy Centre as their program Director, and here’s his reply:
“Thank you for reaching out to the Mercy Centre orphanage. I can relate to your snow sports website, SnowPals.org, because I’m a retired skier from Colorado. I’ve been here since September 2022. I was a 30-year US Army officer and retired in 2016 in Colorado. After doing the mandatory retirement things (golfing, travel, mountain biking, skiing, etc), I got bored. I found out about the Mercy Centre, donated everything I owned in America, packed the rest into two suitcases, and moved to Thailand.
I have no plans to leave, I’m here on a retirement visa and can stay forever if I want. What inspires me? Not too complicated. I thought about what I could do with the rest of my life that would be the most meaningful. At the Mercy Centre, we have 17 kindergartens with nearly 1,000 children (age 3-6) in the slums of Bangkok, as well as an orphanage with about 80 kids (age 6-20) living with us. I’m here 5-6 days a week as a full-time volunteer. I see, every day, the difference the Mercy Centre makes in the lives of these children and I want to be a part of that. The reality is, I get as much out of it as they do.
Below is a summary that succinctly describes the Mercy Centre in a nutshell. Learn more about them by watching these Vimeo documentary videos: https://vimeo.com/932707068/165cedc56d and https://vimeo.com/1008974474
Volunteer at the Mercy Centre in Bangkok Thailand, contact info at https://www.mercycentre.org/new/index.php?page=want-to-volunteer
Make a tax deductible donation at https://mercycentreusa.networkforgood.com/projects/183082-donate-now
HEALTH AND WELFARE
Our team provides mental and physical health assistance to the Mercy children. Also conducts HIV/AIDS outreach to more than 300 patients in the slums of Bangkok 443-837-7303 www.mercycentreusa.org
HDFL MERCY CENTRE
What is the Human Development Foundation (HDF) Mercy Centre?
• Founded in 1972 by Fr. Joe and Sr. Maria in the slaughterhouse area of Klong Toey, Bangkok, with the opening of the first kindergarten in an abandoned pigsty
• In 1976 the first Mercy Home for street children opened
• The Human Development Foundation (HDF), Mercy Centre, is officially registered with the Thailand Office of the National Culture Commission as a non-profit foundation
• The Mercy Centre is a “stand-alone” non-profit foundation and is fully funded by donations
• Our Founders are Catholic, but this is not a “Religious Charity”.
No specific faith is taught, we care for all
Core Missions
1) EDUCATION 17 Kindergartens – Children ages 3-6 with 956 enrolled throughout the poorest slums in Bangkok. Working in conjunction with our Sponsorship Team to coordinate with donors around the world to ensure every family who wants an education for their child can have one 2 CHILD CARE Three Mercy Homes (orphanage), caring for 78 children between ages 6 and 21.
2) We strive for the day when every child will grow up in a caring and loving home environment of their own, where every child will be able to receive a quality education
SUPPORT MISSIONS CHILDREN’S SUPPORT TEAM
Provides daily support to individual personal development and “life skills” education to our Mercy children
For Thailand based Donations 662-671-5313 www.mercycentre.org
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Ties in Mercy’s care for its children with the local slum community needs
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