The Big Sky Town Center will host a “Winter Warm-Up” event on Sunday, February 15th  as a way for families and community residents to get together for fun and entertainment, and also help out those in need by supporting Big Sky LIFT (Lift for Individuals/Families with Financial Trouble). The event is being sponsored by Big Sky Town Center, Big Sky Western Bank and Country Market.

The event will be held Sunday, February 15 at Fire Pit Park on Ousel Falls Road, starting at 4:30 p.m., and going into the night. The community is invited to enjoy an evening of outdoor ski movies on a huge inflatable screen, ice skating (bring your skates!), s’mores around the bonfire, food and drink specials (bring your appetite!), and plenty of snow-packed activities.

A raffle will be held at 7:00pm for many great prizes, including a day of Skiing and Lunch for four at the Yellowstone Club with Martin Bell as your guide, a pair of day passes to Lone Mountain Ranch, a gift certificate to OZssage Massage, a $50 gift card to Choppers Grub and Pub, a $100 Savings Bond at Big Sky Western Bank, Gift Certificate from La Luna, Bottle of Wine and Carrier from Country Market, Water Bottle and $25 Gift Card from Hungry Moose, and Willow Branch Mirror from Carol Sisson Designs. Prizes are being added every day up until the event. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or five for $20.

Sponsorship funds, donations, proceeds from the raffle, and a portion of the sales from local businesses that evening will go to the Big Sky LIFT program.

During the initial planning for a mid-winter event in the Town Center, Bill Simkins, of Big Sky Town Center, thought that the event would be a good way to support LIFT. “We believe  LIFT is a great way to help people during these tough economic times, and we wanted to find a way to raise funds for the program while raising the community’s awareness of one way people in Big Sky can help their neighbors,” he said.

Established with the Montana Community Foundation (MCF), and supported by contributions from Yellowstone Club members and other donors in the Big Sky community, LIFT provides one-time “critical needs” grants to families and individuals who live or work in Big Sky, and who are struggling financially as a result of the area’s economic downturn. The grants will provide immediate help with such essentials as medical expenses, food, utility bills and rent.

LIFT was conceived as a way to help people who have been laid off and small business owners who have been hurt by non-payment for goods or services.

The first cycle of grants was awarded the week of January 23, 2008 to 28 families and individuals. Additional grants will be provided to eligible applicants in February and March. Grants will be available in amounts up to $1000 for individuals and $2500 for families. The next deadline for submitting grants applications is February 16. Applicants may apply by contacting the MCF at 406-443-8313 or by submitting applications online at mtcf.org.