Olympian Jamie Anderson gives back to kids on the South Shore

Jamie Anderson continued her Give Back With Love sponsorship program on Tuesday, by giving three local students a dream package of equipment and a ski pass.

Anderson wanted to be present to give the students their prize but, according to Sierra-at-Tahoe, Jamie has been tied up with the X Games and Burton European Open. They wanted to get the kids up on the hill as soon as possible so didn't wait for Anderson's return but she'll join them on the slopes once back in South Lake Tahoe.

This year’s recipients are Justice Ensign, 11, Jeremy Kornbeck, 14, and Jade Smith, 16. Through this event, selected students in the local community have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a sponsored athlete for a season.

As part of the sponsorship, each student will receive an Sierra-at-Tahoe Unlimited Season Pass, brand new Oakley outerwear, a GNU snowboard, Oakley goggles, boots and bindings, and a camera from GoPro, all together valued at more than $2,500.

Anderson, 24, was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, and created the Jamie Anderson Give Back With Love sponsorship to give back to the community and provide less fortunate kids with the opportunity to snowboard. With the help of Angie Keil, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Anderson worked with the elementary, middle, and high school to identify students that showed academic promise and a strong work ethic.

“I’m so grateful to provide this opportunity to others,” Anderson says of the program. “To see the smiles on these amazing kids’ faces when we present them with an entire set up and season pass is so rewarding for me. My goal is for them to be able to ride as much as they can and hopefully fall in love with snowboarding like I did.”

On February 3, 2015, LTUSD Superintendent, Dr. James Tarwater, school principals and the three students met with the Sierra-at-Tahoe crew at the Fallen Leaf Room in the Student Union at South Tahoe High School. They received their snowboard gear and later in the season, will spend the afternoon with the Olympic Gold Medalist, eight-time Winter X Games medalist, and recent Dew Tour champion. During this shred day in March, Anderson will share snowboarding tips with the recipients, take some runs with them, and inspire them to pursue the sport of snowboarding. Both Anderson and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort hope to empower the kids, show them their potential, and open doors that may not have otherwise been open.