KILLINGTON, Vt. (November 7, 2025) — Killington Resort and Pico Mountain announced today the launch of Upward & Outward, a new commitment to sustainability, community partnership, and positive regional impact designed to turn good intentions into meaningful action.
Rooted in Killington’s new era of independent ownership, Upward & Outward reflects a clear philosophy: we rise by lifting others. The commitment brings together existing efforts in sustainability, community giving, and employee support under one purpose-driven banner—ensuring every initiative we take moves our people, our partners, and our mountain forward.
Guided by three pillars—Respect, Connect, and Project—Upward & Outward focuses on building a stronger, more sustainable future for our mountain community:
“Upward & Outward is how we’re putting our values into action,” said Mike Solimano, President & CEO of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “It’s not all about slogans or checklists; it’s about taking advantage of our independence to make real progress for our community, our employees, and the environment we all share.”
First Initiatives: Relief and Access
Hurricane Melissa Relief: $100,000 for Jamaican Team Members
As part of the commitment’s debut, Killington and Pico are providing direct support to our 100 Jamaican employees whose families were impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Through the Upward & Outward Employee Relief Fund, every affected team member will receive a $1,000 donation to help rebuild and recover.
The effort is being made possible through direct contributions from Killington Resort & Pico Mountain totaling $100,000. A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to allow guests and community members to contribute additional support, with all funds raised going directly to any impacted Jamaicans in the Killington area.
This initiative brings the Connect and Project pillars to life—acting quickly, compassionately, and with purpose for members of our extended resort family.
Vermont Youth Ski & Ride Lease Program
Upward & Outward’s second initiative focuses on increasing youth access to winter sports through a $60,000 seasonal lease program for Vermont Student Pass holders in Windsor and Rutland Counties. For the 2025/26 winter season, Killington and Pico will fully cover the cost of ski or snowboard leases through participating local shops for over 300 children ages 11 & under, reducing financial barriers for families and fostering a new generation of lifelong skiers and riders.
Partner ski and snowboard shops include Basin Ski Essentials, Darkside Snowboards, Peak Performance, Aspen East, First Stop Board Barn, and Forerunner. With the help of these partners and member businesses of the Killington/Pico Area Association, we look forward to keeping this program thriving for years to come. This initiative, rooted in the Respect and Connect pillars, underscores the resort’s belief that everyone deserves access to the joy of mountain sports, while supporting local retailers who will help make that possible.
For more information about Upward & Outward, including updates on our upcoming initiatives to support small, local ski areas, visit killington.com/upward-outward.
High resolution images are linked here.
About Killington Resort
Located in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Killington Resort has earned its moniker “The Beast of the East” with four seasons of adventure spread across six peaks, plus Pico Mountain. With the most expansive snowmaking and lift system in Eastern North America, Killington offers more than 200 trails and 92 miles of diverse snow sports terrain, including a world-class terrain park network and the longest season in the East. During the summer, Killington features a destination bike park with 30 miles of mountain biking trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, the family-friendly Snowshed Adventure Center, plus 15 miles of hiking trails. With elevated on-mountain dining, a plethora of après options and a commitment to investment, quality and the environment, Killington is a can’t miss destination for the whole family. Killington is locally and independently owned and looking forward to a bright future including the forthcoming Great Gulf Village and more. Visit www.killington.com for more information and be social with #beast365.
Contact: Josh Reed, Communications Manager
Cell: 802-770-9226
