The Mt. Abram Ski Club is taking its support of local young skiers to a new level with the launch of its ‘Give a Kid a Lift’ program.

The club is not the traditional member activity-oriented organization, according to member Laurie Fitch. Rather, it is a more of a foundation, with a 15-member volunteer board of directors. The club is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with a mission to support snowsports education for the youth of western Maine.

Established in 2007, the group has provided scholarships for kids in race or ski school programs, supported local athletes for local and national competitions, and funded grants for schools planning trips to the Greenwood ski area.

This year, however, the club aims to raise $20,000 to reach 400 kids in the region to give them a day on the slopes.

“We want kids to be able to play in their own backyards,” said Fitch.

Much of the club’s traditional fundraising has come from an annual auction and golf tournament. The new effort is reaching out to the broader community through a crowd-funding website, Facebook, e-mails and flyers.

Since starting in early October, the club has raised about $7,000, Fitch said, thanks in large part to a couple of corporate donors.

Now they hope others will join in. A day of skiing/riding costs $50 per youngster.

For more information or to donate online go to www.razoo.com/story/Give-A-Kid-A-Lift.

In addition, applications for the club’s traditional scholarship program are now being accepted. Anyone interested in the scholarship program should apply by Dec. 1.