The Park City Community Foundation's Youth United program has raised $2 million and registered 11,000 children for sports over its first 10 years, the foundation announced in its 2025-2026 impact report released Tuesday, July 14.

In the latest grant cycle, Youth United awarded $350,000 to 29 partner organizations across Summit County, up from about $275,000 distributed to 27 organizations the previous year. That's a roughly 27% jump. The grants fund scholarships for prekindergarten through 12th-grade students from low-income families, covering sports ranging from alpine skiing and mountain biking to basketball, soccer, and cross-country skiing.

"Our main focus is to address the critical challenges facing our community, and one of them is it's an expensive place to live," Park City Community Foundation Executive Director Joel Zarrow said on KPCW's "Local News Hour" on Tuesday, July 28. "Mountain biking, skiing, all the sports and activities cost a lot of money, and we want to make sure that everybody has access to it."

The program, originally known as the Solomon Fund, works differently from a typical scholarship. Rather than writing checks to families, Youth United grants money directly to sports organizations, which run their own application processes. Access manager Junior Vieyra said families apply for scholarships through each individual partner organization. Youth United also helps with registration logistics and provides equipment children need, including helmets, skis, and lacrosse balls.

Since its founding, the program has partnered with a cumulative 49 organizations, according to the foundation's impact report.

Vieyra said the program covers nearly every sport available in the area and will connect families with new organizations for activities not yet in its network.

The foundation is now seeking $350,000 in donations for 2027, matching the amount granted this year. Zarrow said on KPCW that many community members still don't know the program exists and that he believes demand hasn't peaked.

Applications for the next round of Youth United grants open in early 2027. More information is available at parkcitycf.org.