Twice Golden: $2 Million Raised At USST 57th Annual Gold Medal Gala
It was a night to remember in the big city. Athletes, supporters and fans returned to New York City for the organization's largest annual fundraiser: the New York Gold Medal Gala. The 57th version of the event was a great success, raising more than $2 million for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
No one reaches the top alone and this year's theme spoke to that. Each athlete was asked to invite a person who has been critical in their sport journey, and parents, siblings and coaches joined the 23 athletes in attendance, alongside more than 600 passionate supporters of the team.
The highlight of the evening included a moment between three-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated American cross country skier of all time Jessie Diggins and her mother, Deb Diggins. With Chad Salmela’s infamous "Here comes Diggins" Olympic call playing in the background, Deb introduced her daughter to the main stage for the night's keynote speech. Diggins spoke about one of the hardest and most rewarding races of her career, the 30k skate race, in which she brought home an Olympic silver medal in the 2022 Games, and why competing at this level is impossible to do alone.
"When we fail, we aren’t alone. We have our teammates, coaches, supporters, and of course, our parents there to pick us back up so we can go try again," said Diggins. "And I can’t even begin to tell you what your support means to me, but I’m going to try to show you – in the passion and energy that I put down into every race. And that’s what all our athletes are doing, in all our sports, all around the world this winter.”
The energy in the room was electric, and when it came time to bid on packages and donate to the team, the momentum was palpable. $2 million was raised, with every dollar going straight to the athletes as they continue their journey to becoming the best in the world.
"We are incredibly fortunate to come back to this event each year and continue to raise the bar," said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. "The theme this year really highlighted how important it is to surround yourself with people that support you and it's a privilege to see who has inspired all of the athletes in our sports. It takes endless hours of work and dedication to reach this level, and the generous support from all those who donated will be crucial in their paths forward.”
USST says thank you to all of the supporters in the room and all who tuned in virtually. The 57th Gold Medal Gala event was made possible by the event co-chairs, Karen & John Arnold, Ali & Peter Jennison, and Kathryn & Bill Tyree as well as a committee of Foundation trustees, ambassadors and U.S. Ski & Snowboard staff.
