Photo: Polaris (Both Images)
Believe it or not, Polaris is a Fortune 500 company these days. That's right, the lovable makers of small-but-mighty ATVs, side-by-sides, snowmobiles, and the occasional military vehicle ranked 496 on the Fortune 500 list as far back as 2018. Safe to say, there's room in the budget to give back to the community that made the brand a household name.
With an initial liquid capital grant of over $100,000, Polaris' Fall 2023 Trails Grants sent a cash payment to 11 organizations in North America to keep quality 4x4 utility vehicles and off-road toys in parks and trails across the continent. Combined with a previous donation nearing $250,000 in capital funding under the same program this spring season, 19 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces host 25 venues that'll benefit from cash investments directly from the big cats in Minneapolis this year.
Under the agreement, each beneficiary of Polaris' cash grant is free to invest the needed TLC that'd test the financial fortitude of even the most popular, well-funded parks, woodland trails, and 4x4 adventure venues. Take the Lexington Highlanders Snowmobile Club in Lexington Township, Maine, who are set to use their investment of up to $10,000 each to repair a vital bridge merging two parallel snowmobile trails and tend to other safety measures across 40 miles of powdery-white trails.
Or the Woodtick Wheelers ATV/OHM Club closer to home in Hackensack, Minnesota, roughly three hours up US Route 110 W from Polaris' base of operations in the Minneapolis metro area. Here, administrators aim to comprehensively bolster its youth rider safety course to ensure the next generation of power sports junkies learns the ropes with the same quality care their parents once did.
"A part of our Club’s mission is to promote safe ATV riding for youths and adults throughout Cass County and surrounding Minnesota communities,” said Paul Vashro, president of Woodtick Wheelers ATV/OHM Club about their part in the Fall 2023 Polaris Trails Grants. "In addition to helping enhance education of safe riding overall, the grant will enable us to purchase a youth ATV that we can use as a part of our Youth ATV Safety Training classes, helping us enhance the hands-on learning experience for students."
Over 370 unique and equally worthy recipients have taken advantage of Polaris' Trails Grants program since its genesis in 2006. Since then, the brand's undergone a renaissance that's seen them occupy every facet of the powersports industry on land, the water, snow, and even the battlefield. It's through the special symbiotic relationship between Polaris and the venues that host its vehicles that the spoils of the company's newfound fortune are spent not just on R&D but invested right back into the community that made them a force in their sector like no other.
Under the agreement, each beneficiary of Polaris' cash grant is free to invest the needed TLC that'd test the financial fortitude of even the most popular, well-funded parks, woodland trails, and 4x4 adventure venues. Take the Lexington Highlanders Snowmobile Club in Lexington Township, Maine, who are set to use their investment of up to $10,000 each to repair a vital bridge merging two parallel snowmobile trails and tend to other safety measures across 40 miles of powdery-white trails.
Or the Woodtick Wheelers ATV/OHM Club closer to home in Hackensack, Minnesota, roughly three hours up US Route 110 W from Polaris' base of operations in the Minneapolis metro area. Here, administrators aim to comprehensively bolster its youth rider safety course to ensure the next generation of power sports junkies learns the ropes with the same quality care their parents once did.
"A part of our Club’s mission is to promote safe ATV riding for youths and adults throughout Cass County and surrounding Minnesota communities,” said Paul Vashro, president of Woodtick Wheelers ATV/OHM Club about their part in the Fall 2023 Polaris Trails Grants. "In addition to helping enhance education of safe riding overall, the grant will enable us to purchase a youth ATV that we can use as a part of our Youth ATV Safety Training classes, helping us enhance the hands-on learning experience for students."
Over 370 unique and equally worthy recipients have taken advantage of Polaris' Trails Grants program since its genesis in 2006. Since then, the brand's undergone a renaissance that's seen them occupy every facet of the powersports industry on land, the water, snow, and even the battlefield. It's through the special symbiotic relationship between Polaris and the venues that host its vehicles that the spoils of the company's newfound fortune are spent not just on R&D but invested right back into the community that made them a force in their sector like no other.
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