Key Criteria and Practices
The Kees Brenninkmeyer Foundation is a non-profit resource for alpine industry professionals seeking orthopedic medical care.
Mission Statement
To financially assist alpine guides, patrollers, or instructors who require surgery in order to continue their careers.
Our Practices
The Kees Brenninkmeyer Foundation provides an unbiased determination of a candidate’s eligibility for financial assistance. Evaluation of financial circumstance, professional memberships, career history, future career intentions, and injury treatment plan are primary factors in the assessment of eligibility. All arrangements will be determined on a per case basis to best provide for a successful outcome that allows for a limitless return to an alpine career.
Key Criteria
- Career threatening injury (chronic or acute).
- Documentation supporting career and/or career intent within the guiding, patrolling, or instructing organization.
- Medical expenses related to injury would present a considerable financial hardship.
Featured Testimonial
"In Canada, I was placed on a 15 month waiting list. Although it would not have cost me any of my own funding, that was pretty unacceptable as far as my own health and welfare. Symptoms were rapidly getting worse. This was quite depressing. I would end up missing 2 seasons of guiding if I waited for the Canadian surgery dates, not to mention a huge change in lifestyle and also financial implications. My friend and guiding peer, Evan Stevens, told me about the Kees Brenninkmeyer Foundation. He had used the foundation to help him fast track a knee operation during a previous winter. Within just a few weeks of completing my application and receiving a determination, I went through with a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Procedure in Seattle Washington. The Kees Brenninkmeyer Foundation was always there with any questions and direction that I needed, which was great. Thank you very much!! It is absolutely incredible that there are individuals like the Brenninkmeyer family who has provided this very unselfish means for people who are in a quick need for medical help. Without the financial assistance, I would have been quite challenged with the costs of the procedure. The Kees Brenninkmeyer Foundation actually covered the costs of my flight down to Seattle and back, the entire surgery costs, and 6 months of post-surgery physiotherapy. Accommodations costs would also have been covered, but I was fortunate enough to have a very good client and now friend take care of me while in Seattle post surgery. I am most grateful to the foundation to make this happen for me in a very timely manner and along with the direction and assistance of getting everything in line on my end."
- Richard Marshall