About PCEF

The Schmutz family’s connection to Park City began nearly four decades ago with Jae’s first ski trip to what was then Park West. An affinity for the Greatest Snow on Earth quickly followed, and trips to the Wasatch Back became a regular part of his younger years. Jae’s wife, Hilary, also spent some of her earliest days on skis in Park City.

Those childhood experiences came full circle years later when Jae and Hilary visited friends in Deer Valley. Neither had been back since they were kids, and it took only a few days to fall in love with the western charm, natural beauty and sense of community that make Park City special. One summer visit became another, eventually turning into summers spent here and as many ski trips as they could squeeze into each winter.

After spending every possible minute in Park City, the Schmutz family made it official in 2017 and moved here full-time — cue “Leaving Las Vegas.”

While the mountains and lifestyle may have initially drawn them here, the decision to make Park City home was about something much bigger: their children and the opportunity to raise them in a community that places tremendous value on education, experiences and kids.

Education has always been particularly important to the Schmutz family. Hilary’s background as an educator gave the family a deep appreciation for public education and for the teachers and staff who dedicate their careers to helping kids succeed. Once Jae understood the full scope of what the Park City Education Foundation makes possible for students and educators throughout the district, supporting PCEF quickly evolved from something he believed in to something he wanted to actively help advance.

Today, Jae serves on PCEF’s Executive Committee and has had the privilege of watching his own family experience Park City’s schools from elementary school through graduation. Angeline is a proud Park City High School graduate and now attends the Honors Program at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, while Wyatt is an eighth grader at Ecker Hill Middle School. That journey has only strengthened Jae’s belief that exceptional public schools don’t happen by accident — they are the result of exceptional educators and a community willing to invest in opportunities for every student.

Jae’s commitment to Park City’s kids extends well beyond the classroom. He is a founding board member of the Go Miners Athletic Foundation, previously served on the board of Park City Youth Lacrosse and has spent more than a decade coaching lacrosse, basketball and baseball. Whether through education, athletics, arts, technology, career preparation or simply helping a student discover something that sparks their curiosity, Jae believes giving kids opportunities to find their passion can change the trajectory of their lives.

Jae earned a B.A. in Economics from San Diego State University and spent more than two decades as a senior executive in private aviation, where his career centered on sales, leadership and building long-term relationships.

Nearly a decade after officially becoming Parkites — and almost four decades after that first trip to Park West — Jae and his family remain every bit as grateful to call Park City home. When he isn’t working on a community project or somewhere on a field or court, Jae can usually be found with Hilary, Angeline and Wyatt skiing, golfing, camping, fishing or enjoying just about anything outdoors that doesn’t require a screen or Wi-Fi.

For Jae, serving PCEF is ultimately about giving back to a community that has given his family so much — and helping ensure the next generation of Park City students has even more opportunities than the one before it.The Schmutz family’s connection to Park City began nearly four decades ago with Jae’s first ski trip to what was then Park West. An affinity for the Greatest Snow on Earth quickly followed, and trips to the Wasatch Back became a regular part of his younger years. Jae’s wife, Hilary, also spent some of her earliest days on skis in Park City.

Those childhood experiences came full circle years later when Jae and Hilary visited friends in Deer Valley. Neither had been back since they were kids, and it took only a few days to fall in love with the western charm, natural beauty and sense of community that make Park City special. One summer visit became another, eventually turning into summers spent here and as many ski trips as they could squeeze into each winter.

After spending every possible minute in Park City, the Schmutz family made it official in 2017 and moved here full-time — cue “Leaving Las Vegas.”

While the mountains and lifestyle may have initially drawn them here, the decision to make Park City home was about something much bigger: their children and the opportunity to raise them in a community that places tremendous value on education, experiences and kids.

Education has always been particularly important to the Schmutz family. Hilary’s background as an educator gave the family a deep appreciation for public education and for the teachers and staff who dedicate their careers to helping kids succeed. Once Jae understood the full scope of what the Park City Education Foundation makes possible for students and educators throughout the district, supporting PCEF quickly evolved from something he believed in to something he wanted to actively help advance.

Today, Jae serves on PCEF’s Executive Committee and has had the privilege of watching his own family experience Park City’s schools from elementary school through graduation. Angeline is a proud Park City High School graduate and now attends the Honors Program at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, while Wyatt is an eighth grader at Ecker Hill Middle School. That journey has only strengthened Jae’s belief that exceptional public schools don’t happen by accident — they are the result of exceptional educators and a community willing to invest in opportunities for every student.

Jae’s commitment to Park City’s kids extends well beyond the classroom. He is a founding board member of the Go Miners Athletic Foundation, previously served on the board of Park City Youth Lacrosse and has spent more than a decade coaching lacrosse, basketball and baseball. Whether through education, athletics, arts, technology, career preparation or simply helping a student discover something that sparks their curiosity, Jae believes giving kids opportunities to find their passion can change the trajectory of their lives.

Jae earned a B.A. in Economics from San Diego State University and spent more than two decades as a senior executive in private aviation, where his career centered on sales, leadership and building long-term relationships.

Nearly a decade after officially becoming Parkites — and almost four decades after that first trip to Park West — Jae and his family remain every bit as grateful to call Park City home. When he isn’t working on a community project or somewhere on a field or court, Jae can usually be found with Hilary, Angeline and Wyatt skiing, golfing, camping, fishing or enjoying just about anything outdoors that doesn’t require a screen or Wi-Fi.

For Jae, serving PCEF is ultimately about giving back to a community that has given his family so much — and helping ensure the next generation of Park City students has even more opportunities than the one before it.