Coinciding with the opening of the ski slopes at nearby Steamboat Springs, Colo., the Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch will mark its first winter season with the introduction of a concierge alpine skiing program custom designed for each guest.

Best known for outstanding fly-fishing, Three Forks Ranch continues its dedication to personalized attention and unparalleled guest service through the winter months. This hassle-free approach to skiing at Steamboat Springs eliminates lift lines, ticket lines and crowded slopes. Guests are guided through the best trails by their own personal skiing guide, who creates individual ski experiences based on guests tastes and skills.

Concierge skiing at Three Forks Ranch begins as guests enjoy coffee and pastries while being chauffeured to Steamboat Springs in a private vehicle. A personal ski guide greets guests with a private equipment fitting inside Three Forks Ranch’s ski-in, ski-out condominium. With medallion-level lift passes, guests spend a greater amount of time skiing, and with the expert guidance of the Three Forks ski instructor, guests can take the trails less traveled for an even more exclusive Rocky Mountain skiing experience.

As a full or half day of skiing comes to a close, guests are driven back to the 30,000-square-foot Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch where an apres ski experience of spa appointments and wine tasting completes the adventure.

“The concierge alpine skiing excursions provide our guests with the same dedication to intimate care they’ve come to expect from the Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch,” said Jay Linderman, general manager. “We’re excited to add this new dimension to the experience during the winter months.”

Sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and snowshoeing adventures on Three Forks Ranch’s 200,000 acres round out the winter stay. All activities are available and the Three Forks Ranch staff will work personally with guests to create each day’s custom itinerary.

Situated on 200,000 acres along the Colorado-Wyoming border, Three Forks Ranch is a working cattle ranch and celebrated fly-fishing destination characterized by the mountains, waterways, big sky and wildlife of the Sierra Madre mountain range. The winter season begins December 15 and runs through March 15. The lodge is available for Christmas and holiday bookings. Three Forks Ranch is located 42 miles north of Steamboat Springs, Colo. The property is 62 miles from the Hayden, Colo., airport and 246 miles from Denver International Airport. For additional details, visit www.threeforksranch.com.

2009 marks the 60th anniversary of adidas registering the iconic 3-Stripes mark introduced by company founder Adi Dassler. In keeping with this important milestone, adidas will unveil its largest global brand campaign ever for adidas Originals under the banner of Celebrate Originality. The campaign is set against the backdrop of a house party hosting an eclectic mix of people from the worlds of music, fashion and sport.

Born in sport heritage but living in contemporary lifestyles, adidas Originals is unique in that it unites and touches diverse pockets of popular culture around the world. To reflect this, the creative features musicians and icons Katy Perry, Estelle, Young Jeezy, the Ting Tings, DMC-Daryl McDaniels, Method Man, Redman, Afra, Ryukyudisko, Russell Simmons and Missy Elliott, athletes Kevin Garnett, David Beckham, Ilie Nastase and Mark Gonzales, and designers Kazuki and Jeremy Scott.

“adidas Originals’ biggest strength and point of difference is the ability of the Trefoil brand to be a relevant part of people’s lives — in whatever lifestyle they have — skater, rocker, artist, musician, sneakerhead, sports fan whatever,” explained Hermann Deininger, CMO adidas Sport Style Division. “This is a campaign that celebrates all of them and offers an open invitation to consumers to come and join in.”

The “house party” was directed by Nima Nourizadeh and features the track Beggin’ remixed by Pilooski. The creative will come to life in a complete through-the-line offering including two television spots, cinema, digital, retail, activation events and a print campaign shot by RJ Shaughnessy.

Montreal-based agency Sid Lee created and produced the global campaign. Sid Lee was hired as the global advertising agency for adidas Originals at the start of 2008 after working on various communication and retail projects for the brand over the last few years.

The campaign launches in the US on November 25, 2008 and in the rest of the world in January 2009. It is a year-long campaign with various elements launching throughout 2009.

Source: adidas Originals

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Peace Corps signed an historic alliance with six well known Dominican non-profit organizations to benefit poor communities in the Dominican Republic. The purpose of the Alliance is to use baseball as a catalyst for improving the lives of the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic through sound community development activities. Baseball is, traditionally, America’s game, but it is also the passion of the Dominican Republic and will be helpful in bringing a host of new ideas and contributors to help alleviate the many challenges facing poor Dominicans. USAID will contribute $1 million to the project.

On November 19, P. Robert Fannin, the U.S. Ambassador in the Dominican Republic, and Joe Garagiola, Jr., MLB Senior Vice President, announced the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Ambassador’s Residence in Santo Domingo. Many former and active Dominican baseball players and key MLB representatives participated in this event to include Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz and Robinson Cano.

The Alliance has two principal goals: improve the quality of life in Dominican communities and foster long-term relationship between MLB teams, players, and fans with these communities. The projects under this Alliance will focus on education, health, youth development, small scale economic development and job creation for the poor. The Alliance will help increase the impacts of the considerable charitable assistance with which Dominican players are already engaged.

The six non-profit institutions that are participating - World Vision, Save the Children, Plan International, Esperanza International, Batey Relief Alliance, and the Dominican Institute for Integrated Development - have for decades provided community service in the Dominican Republic.

USAID’s $1 million over 3 years will serve as a matching fund for any donations received to help fund community development activities. The eventual target of the Alliance is to get every signed MLB Dominican player (over 500 per year) to give back something to his community and also for MLB teams to help those communities where their academies are located. This Alliance seeks to mobilize the entire baseball family (fans, players, teams, sponsors). If a player decides to donate, for example, $1,000, to the Alliance, USAID will then match this with another $1,000. Peace Corps will provide a full time volunteer to assist the project.

The Alliance has an honorary Board of Advisors co-chaired by the U.S. Ambassador in the Dominican Republic and a Vice President from MLB. The members of the Board represent active and former MLB players, the Dominican private sector as well as Dominican journalists, MLB team and Dominican non-profit organizations. Members of Board serve as spokespeople for the Alliance and help market the Alliance with their contacts and help identify possible donors.

For more information about USAID, please visit: www.usaid.gov.