FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IRS grants nonprofit status to Cochran's

February 12, 1999, RICHMOND, VT --  Cochran's Ski Area was granted nonprofit status Thursday, February 11, 1999, by the Internal Revenue Service, a long-awaited move that will allow the mini-resort to raise the money it needs to upgrade its modest ski lift and snowmaking operations.

   "This will allow our fund raising to be carried out with a much broader stroke," said David Furney, a member of the Cochran's Ski Area board of directors in confirming the IRS decision.  Furney said the nonprofit designation will allow contributions to the area to be tax-deductible.

   Management of the small resort was taken over by a group of longtime patrons last year after its co-founder, Mickey Cochran, died and his widow, Ginny, said she would be unable to operate the area by herself.

   The ski area, on the outskirts of Richmond, has provided an inexpensive introduction to skiing to Vermont schoolchildren since 1961.  The Cochran family includes four former U.S. Olympic and World Cup competitors.