Jackson, Wyo. — To celebrate a continual partnership that supports the entire community, Teton County Search & Rescue and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort are hosting a party for Mission Critical at the base of the aerial tram on March 18. In conjunction with the resort’s “Road to Rendezvous” from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, this is an all-ages party, all are welcome, and there is no cost to attend.
Mission Critical is the name of TCSAR’s capital campaign intended to raise $7.25 million to purchase a year-round, Search & Rescue helicopter for Teton County. Since August 2022, TCSAR Foundation has raised $5.8 million in private donations toward that goal. This amount includes a generous gift from JHMR and the Kemmerer Family Foundation, a longtime and committed partner in support of TCSAR volunteers and backcountry safety.
The time is now for the community to back up these efforts to support Mission Critical. Just as TCSAR volunteers respond to anyone who needs their help—whether they’ve lived in Jackson for decades or arrived yesterday on vacation—they know that Every Person Counts.
“In order for Mission Critical to be successful, that same philosophy applies: Every Person Counts,” said Stephanie Thomas, Executive Director for TCSAR Foundation. “We are humbly asking this community to help push Mission Critical over the finish line in the name of saving lives. Starting Saturday and over the next few months, our goal is to have as many donations to this campaign as the number of rescues our team has performed since becoming operational 30 years ago—1,493.”
TCSAR does not own—and never has owned—a helicopter. TCSAR currently leases a rescue helicopter for eight months out of the year, leaving a critical gap in their ability to respond to life-threatening injuries. The lease model also puts TCSAR in jeopardy of not receiving a contracted helicopter in the future.
A successful campaign means that Teton County will have an on-call rescue helicopter available 365 days a year. With the number of rescues going up annually, a year-round SAR ship is an essential resource for this outdoor-centric community.
The March 18th celebration takes place during “Road to Rendezvous,” JHMR’s free offering of live music under the tram from 3-6 p.m. each Saturday during March. TCSAR Foundation will be on site taking donations, selling merchandise and educating the community about the helicopter campaign.
To learn more about Mission Critical, please visit: TetonCountySAR.org/mission-critical.
For more information about Road to Rendezvous, go to: JacksonHole.com.