Our Mission:

To expand access to wildland exploration, outdoor adventure, and cultural development, extending the light and love Nick brought into the world.

Our Goal: To raise over $1M, give away $100K annually, and positively impact at least 10,000 people every year.

Dear Friend of The Nick Would Foundation,

Welcome to our third-quarter 2026 update. Thank you for being part of a community that keeps spreading Nick's love through outdoor adventure, wildland exploration and preservation, and creative expression. Read on for the latest news, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. And remember... Nick Would!

Nick Would News

Grants Going Strong, Eclipsing $100k Since Inception!

Grant Applications Now on the Website

With our 2026 grant cycle wrapping up and more than $35,000 awarded to nonprofits across the country, total Nick Would Foundation grants have now passed the $100,000 mark. Recent recipients include:

• The City of Oak Creek, Colorado, for a new downhill mountain bike trail

• The New York State Sheriffs' Institute Summer Camp (Camp Iroquois) on Keuka Lake

• The Cycle Effect, empowering young women through mountain biking

• X10 Archery Academy, helping young people find their potential through archery

• Project Valkyrie's adventure camps for veterans

• Windansea Surf Club's Day at the Beach program, which teaches people facing physical, cognitive, and economic challenges to surf

...and more.

Have an idea for a grant from the Nick Would Foundation? Our new grant application is now live. Apply here.

Silent Auction Raises More Than $25,000

Our 2026 Silent Auction was a resounding success, raising more than $25,000 to carry forward Nick's spirit of adventure, generosity, creativity, and connection. Items ranged from a stay at a French Riviera chateau and a Mexican paradise getaway to private guided fly-fishing trips and much more.

Thank you to every donor and bidder. Each contribution keeps Nick's light and legacy alive through experiences that change lives.

Save the date: Next year's auction will be part of our Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series fundraiser, June 18–20, 2027, at Howelsen Hill.

Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendar!

• November 15 2026 - Video competition entries due

• January 15-17 2027 - IFSA Steamboat Big Mountain Freeride

• June 18-20 2027 - Silent Auction & Free Summer Concert Series fundraiser, Howelson Hill

• August 28 2027 - 4th Annual Nick Would Surf Jam, La Jolla Shores

2026 Video Competition Entries Accepted Until November 15th!

In partnership with the 5Point Film Festival, the Nick Would Foundation is hosting its third annual video competition. Judges will be looking for storytelling, creativity, and that unmistakable "Nicky-ness." So roll those cameras and start filming!

The competition is open to filmmakers age 25 and under. Entries are accepted through November 15, 2026, and winners will be announced at year's end.

Visit nickwould.com for more information! 

4th Annual Nick Would Surf Contest Set for August 28, 2027

With big gratitude to the Windansea Surf Club, this summer's Nick Would Surf Jam at La Jolla Shores drew more contestants (and more wacky rides) than ever. Judges rewarded enthusiasm, fun, and overall "steeze," while the crowd enjoyed food, libations, raffle prizes, schwag, and great camaraderie.

The celebration rolled on to a ragin' after-party at Beaumont's, where everyone danced (like Nick would) till the cows came home.

Save the date: The 4th annual Nick Would Surf Jam is Saturday, August 28, 2027. The Inertia's coverage of the 2025 Surf Jam.

Off the Beaten Path Raises a Glass to Nick

In September, Nick's birthday month, Steamboat's Off the Beaten Path bookstore served a special Nick Would drink, with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. Next time you stop in, be sure to thank Mike and Danielle Skov for supporting the Nick Would mission!

Riding and Climbing for Nick: A Coastal Ride and a New Yosemite Route

The bicycle philanthropy just keeps on giving. This summer, Marco Furlanis pedaled from San Luis Obispo to San Diego in honor of the Nick Would Foundation. His ride follows in the tire tracks of new board member Ryan "Rydoh" Doherty, who biked from Canada to Mexico for Nick three years ago and through the Sierra last year.

This year, Rydoh also put up a new climbing route near Yosemite Valley's famed El Capitan. A first ascent comes with naming rights, and Rydoh named it "The Nick Simon Memorial Route."

Thank you both for your support. Nick would be so humbled by these incredible endeavors.

A Little Color, A Lot of Heart: Honoring Nick Through Childrens’ Art

One of the most beautiful ways to honor Nick’s legacy is to see it reach people who never had the chance to meet him. Recently, Erin Kreis, a longtime art teacher at Strawberry Park Elementary School in Steamboat Springs, created a special opportunity for her students to connect with Nick and the spirit of the Nick Would Foundation. Erin invited her students to color in the Nick Would logo and write down what they had learned about Nick and what they liked about him—even though none of these young artists had ever met him. Their colorful creations captured pieces of Nick’s adventurous life, from skiing and surfing to hockey and travel, alongside the qualities that made him so special. There is something profoundly moving about watching children who never knew Nick find their own ways to celebrate him, guided by the stories and spirit he left behind. Their artwork is a reminder that a legacy is not only about the people whose lives we touched while we were here, but also about the people who will be inspired by our story long after we’re gone. We are deeply grateful to Erin for this thoughtful and heartfelt tribute, and for helping these students discover what it means to live with curiosity, kindness, adventure, and an open heart. Thank you, Erin, for bringing Nick’s spirit into your classroom and helping his light reach another generation.

NWF Sponsors IFSA Steamboat Big Mtn Comp

Striking close to Nick’s heart, the Nick Would Foundation will once again be sponsoring the IFSA Steamboat Big Mountain Freeride competition hosted by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club January 15-17, 2027. Event Details at IFSA.

“The competition is super awesome,” says board member Jack Craig, who helps announce the event while spreading the foundation’s mission. “It’s great to see how much the program has grown since Nick participated in it in high school.” The event will feature three days of competition and over 200 competitors.

Merchandise Madness… Hats, Shirts, Buffs and More

Want to help spread the Nick Would word (and look stylie doing so)? Hats, shirts, buffs, hoodies, and more headline our Nick Would merchandise line. Choose from ballcaps, T-shirts, buffs, holiday ornaments, and more—all from sustainable lifestyle clothing brand West Lyfe here in Steamboat. Profits go directly to the Nick Would Foundation. Purchase here or buy at nickwould.com

Holiday Stocking Stuffers from Our Board

The holidays are coming, and two NWF board members have written the perfect gifts:

• Yampa Yearnings by Eugene Buchanan, dedicated to Nick

• The Pacific Coast Search by Ryan "Rydoh" Doherty

We thank you for being a part of this community. Together, we’re keeping Nick’s light alive—through adventure, exploration, creativity, and connection.

Live boldly. Create freely. Connect deeply. Nick Would!