Mikaela Shiffrin Honors her Father with Athlete Resiliency Fund
On February 2, 2020, skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin’s world stopped when her father, Jeff Shiffrin, tragically passed away. Shortly after, the world came to a halt when COVID swept the globe.
Today, Mikaela and US Ski and Snowboard announced the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund to honor Jeff’s legacy, as well as “contribute to the ongoing pursuit of excellence for all athletes across all sports.”
Six donors will match every contribution up to $1.5 million to help athletes get through the prolonged period of uncertainty leading into Beijing 2022. The fully funded Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund would be $3 million. You can donate here to have your contribution matched.
Mikaela reflects on resiliency, holding onto the fire and not giving up after the death of her father, Jeff Shiffrin
“Be nice, think first, have fun.” The simple and powerful words that Mikaela’s father, Jeff, would tell her. Her heartfelt video.
Mikaela announced the fund on her Instagram profile with this post:
There is something about trying to explain something that’s unexplainable. From the moment my brother called, to the 10 hr plane ride, to the following 9 hrs that I laid in that hospital bed with my dad waiting for them to say it was time to go and simultaneously hoping they never would, to the moments this summer with my mom and brother where we could actually smile or laugh together, to the overwhelming amount of *everything* that has cascaded down on us for the last 7 months, to now.
This moment, where I’m trying to explain something that’s unexplainable. Why? Because hidden somewhere deep down within every single one of us is this incredible thing that I want to share with you in hopes that you may find it within yourself. A thing that exudes Hope. Bravery. Sadness. Anger. Joy. Pain. A thing that reveals our scars as if they branded us only yesterday, yet also finds a way to envelope them in a thin layer of the softest fabric. Something that can slightly dull the ache, the screaming coming from every fiber of our being. Resiliency. That thing is resiliency. And it has become more essential to my life over the last 7 months than I ever thought it would be. I’m sure a LOT of people have felt and currently feel that way. So maybe if I give you some hope, you can give me some too. Maybe if I share some strength, you might kindly return the favor. After all, we are in this together.
The stories we are sharing through the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency fund will send shivers down your spine, make you want to get up and dance, make you want to cry, and make you laugh, all at the same time. They are stories of heart and soul, and they are being told hand in hand with a massive effort to help the athletes of @usskiteam continue training and competing in their sports during one of the most challenging, frustrating and confusing times any of us have faced and may ever face. I am so incredibly proud to share this with you now. And I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who has helped bring this to life for our athletes. Throughout it all, together we can keep the flame alive. Learn more at keeptheflamealive.org.
#keeptheflamealive
The ski community on resiliency and getting through the pandemic
Olympian Jessie Diggins
3X World Mogul Skiing Champion Jeremy Bloom’s Resiliency Story
Olympic and World Champion Kikkan Randall (@kikkanimal)
Gold Medalist and Freestyle Skier Jonny Moseley
World Cup Alpine Skier and 3X Champion, Steve Nyman
The Donors
According to the funds website, the generous donors who will match $1.5 million in the fund include: Phill & Liz Gross; Andy & Linda McLane; Paul & Wendy Raether; Steven & Mary Ann Read; Eric & Sara Resnick; and Steve & Diana Strandberg
