Investing in Aspen’s future: In Paul Sohn’s words

The finance world knows Paul Sohn as a remarkable hedge fund manager, entrepreneur, and investor. My daughters know Paul Sohn as the Coach K of Aspen Rec basketball, a determined Aspen Lacrosse Club mentor (Paul was a Yale lacrosse defensive standout), and their own very patient AVSC Highland Bowl hike chaperone. Our community knows Paul Sohn as a dedicated husband, encouraging girl dad, and the incomparable chairman of the Aspen Education Foundation. I packed as much Paul energy as possible into this interview column.

AEF finances IB program and outdoor ed

“It’s impressive. We’re now the smallest public school in the world with the full International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and the only public school in Colorado, K-12, to have it,” explains Paul. Paul brings a true international perspective. He just returned from a year in Germany with the whole family. Germany is Paul’s brilliant bride, Sarah’s, native land — where she began her stunning modeling career. For him, the IB program is more than a curriculum; it’s a transformational path that brings Aspen schools up to an international standard. “It’s robust, it teaches kids how to learn, and it really elevates our local public school. AEF has been a big part of this initiative, stepping outside conventional thinking for the Colorado public school system.”

Sohn’s enthusiasm in the IB program is matched only by his appreciation of ASD’s outdoor education program.

“Outdoor ed touches every single kid,” he says. “Until we funded the outdoor education coordinator, there was no central organization. Fourth-grade teachers were planning trips on their own. For some, that’s great, but for others, it’s not their core competency. Now, with a coordinator, every trip is aligned with the curriculum and all standards are met — and the scholarships we provide ensure that every student can participate. The eighth-grade solo trip, where they spend a night alone in the wilderness, is something every high school graduate talks about as a transformational moment.”

Aspen’s biggest party… the locals’ greatest cause

Central to AEF’s success is its annual fundraiser: The “Flamingo 2024” event is on Dec. 7 at the St. Regis Hotel.

“Flamingo raises anywhere from 75% to 90% of our annual budget,” Sohn explains. “It’s the biggest charitable event in town, and it’s also become the most talked about. In 2019, we raised $700,000 the night of the event — not including ticket sales or tables, just paddle raise and live auction. By 2023, we doubled that, hitting $1.6 million. It’s not just parents of current students donating; we have a lot of people in the community without kids in the district who see supporting AEF as one of the best ways to give back to Aspen.”

Sohn credits the community’s engagement for making The Flamingo possible.

“The community has completely leaned in, not just the parents of kids in school. We have donors with grown kids who never went to Aspen schools, or who don’t have kids in the district at all. But they see what we’re doing and they believe in it. For example, we fund a second college counselor. This gives every student a personalized college planning experience that most public schools can’t offer. Our student-to-counselor ratio rivals most boarding schools now.”

The Flamingo itself is an evolving event, on spectrums of both fun and purpose.

“We were able to return to the St. Regis Ballroom last year after remote events during the pandemic, and it was phenomenal,” says Sohn. “We fill the ballroom with 500 people, and there’s such energy in the room.”

AEF holds a live auction with unique experiences. My favorite was floor seats to the NBA Christmas Day game to see the Denver Nuggets host the Golden State Warriors — with a same day private airplane commute from Sardy Field.

“We keep it to five unique items, things you can’t just buy, and it’s a lot of fun,” continues Sohn. “But the bulk of the money comes from the paddle raise. That’s where people just give because they believe in what we’re doing.”

Even the entertainment for Flamingo is supported by the community.

“Last year, we had Donavan Frankenreiter sponsored by a donor, and this year, we’re thrilled to have Wyclef Jean. Our focus is efficiency, so everything from the entertainment to the liquor is sponsored, allowing us to give as much of the budget as possible directly to the schools,” Sohn says. “We’re not a charity that exists to throw parties. We exist to give a big check to the schools each year.”

A nonprofit hub

Beyond funding key positions and programs, AEF is creating partnerships with local organizations to bring unprecedented resources to Aspen schools.

“We’re lucky to have world-class organizations in Aspen, and two years ago, we began connecting them with the schools,” Sohn says. “Aspen Words was our first partner, bringing top poets into the middle school classrooms to work with students on creative writing. This year, we partnered with Anderson Ranch, so now our students have access to visual arts programs with real mentors, and some even take field trips to Anderson Ranch.”

Sohn hopes to bring in more local partners each year.

“We’re building connections that give our students exposure to the best Aspen has to offer,” the AEF chairman explains. “These programs come with some funding from us, but also real creative initiative. My goal is for every major nonprofit in town to be working with our students in some way.”

This year, Flamingo sold out in record time.

“The call to action for people who couldn’t get tickets is to visit our website,” Sohn says. “They can donate directly or participate in the online silent auction. And if they want to be part of next year’s event, jump on tickets early! We’re selling out quicker and quicker because everyone realizes what a great time it is, and what an important impact it has on the community.”

For Sohn and AEF, supporting Aspen’s schools isn’t just about funding programs — it’s about investing in the future of Aspen itself.

“If we weren’t here, these things just wouldn’t happen,” he said. “The needs are endless, but with this community, we’re making Aspen’s public schools the best we possibly can!”

Damian O’Doherty is a Snowmass Village resident and an eight-year resident of the Roaring Fork Valley.