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Utah’s 2034 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee’s historic fundraising initiative is called Podium34.
Podium34 is made up of more than 20 Utah families, nonprofit foundations, charitable arms of Utah corporations and other giving organizations. Together, organizing committee President and Executive Chair Fraser Bullock said they have pledged over $200 million to the Utah organizing committee.
“To have donations of this magnitude to an Olympic host has never happened before. This is a Games first,” Bullock said.
Nine of the 20+ donors are “founding captain donors” who have committed $20 million or more. They include Park City residents and Park Record owners Matthew and Tatiana Prince.
Matthew Prince said he lived in Park City during the 2002 Olympics and it was a magical time. So when he heard the Games were coming back in 2034, he told Bullock he’d be happy to help however possible.
“The Olympics are a huge opportunity for the state and also for Park City,” Matthew Prince said. “So the fact that we can afford to donate to support, it is something that was really just a no-brainer for us.”
He said Utah’s bid has been inspiring as it’s inclusive at every level — one of the organizing committee’s goals is to support athletes and their families by providing lodging and event tickets. Matthew Prince said he also likes that the organizing committee wants to invite athletes from all over the world to train in the Beehive State.
“Opening the amazing resources that we have here in the state to other countries that may not have those training facilities is important not just for the Olympics, but for the entire state of sport,” he said.
Bullock said the early support is critical for laying the foundation for a successful 2034 Games. That’s in part because under the International Olympic Committee rules, Utah can’t begin securing corporate sponsors until after the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Podium34 will also allow the organizing committee to begin to execute the first pillar of its vision — elevating Utah communities.
“Whether it's youth sport or education or other initiatives that are so important to our communities, we don't have to wait till 2034 we can start them now because of these great contributors to this cause,” Bullock said.
The organizing committee’s goal is to raise $300 million in donations before 2034. Bullock said more donations are welcome.
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Full list of participating Utah families and giving organizations:
- Founding Captains ($20 million contribution)
- The Daniels Fund
- George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
- Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation
- Huntsman Family Foundation
- Maverik
- Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation
- John and Marcia Price Family Foundation
- Matthew and Tatiana Prince
- Ryan and Ashley Smith Foundation
- Founding Donors ($1-15 million)
- The Andrus Family Foundation
- The Boyer Company
- The Coburn Family
- Gregory and Julie Cook Family
- Intermountain Health
- The Kahlert Foundation
- Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation
- Janet Q. Lawson Foundation
- Blake and Sandy Modersitzki Family
- S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation
- Blake and Nancy Roney Family
