Santas converge on Sunday River for good cause

More than 300 Santas took to Sunday River to benefit The River Fund Maine. (Sunday River)

More than 300 skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes for the 24th annual Santa Sunday at Sunday River dressed as Santa Claus, raising more than $9,000 for The River Fund Maine, a local nonprofit.

Each Santa wore the full outfit with red hat adorned with a white pompom, matching jacket and pants and a beard. For spreading the holiday cheer around the mountain, the Santas were given a lift ticket for the day and another to be used before Christmas.

The group gathered at South Ridge for a photo before taking a run together down Broadway.

“This event is a wonderful way to celebrate the season, but its true impact comes from the generosity of our mountain community,” said Sunday River Resort president Dana Bullen. “We’re honored to support partners like The River Fund Maine, and their mission, to create meaningful educational opportunities for local students.”

Since its founding in 2018, The River Fund Maine has awarded two $20,000 annual college scholarships, each renewable for up to four years, to local students pursuing higher education.

Earlier this month, The River Fund Maine announced it provided more than 300 area students with Community Access Ski Passes to Sunday River, with 60 of those recipients also receiving a seasonal lease of either skis or a snowboard.