TAHOE FUND NAMES ART CHAPMAN BOARD CHAIR
Longtime Environmentalist Clem Shute Joins the Board

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif.  – April 13, 2016 – The Tahoe Fund, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to raising private support for environmental projects at Lake Tahoe, today announced the appointment of Art Chapman as chair of the board of directors. The organization, now entering its sixth year, also announced the appointment of environmental attorney E. Clement (Clem) Shute, Jr. to its board of directors. The bi-state organization is focused on restoring the Lake’s famed clarity, improving outdoor recreation and inspiring greater stewardship of the Tahoe Basin.  Chapman takes over as chair from Tim Cashman, who will remain a board member of the organization.

“Tahoe is an incredibly special place to me and my family,” said Art Chapman. “As a founding member of this organization, I have seen the great work we can do for Tahoe with the help of the private community. I am honored to be named chair and will continue to focus our efforts on growing our impact.”

Chapman is the Founder of JMA Ventures. Headquartered in San Francisco, JMA’s assets include The Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel at Ghirardelli Square, the Epic and Waterbar restaurants in San Francisco, Homewood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, The West Shore Café and Inn, and ownership interests in the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts.  He was a founding member of the Tahoe Fund. He was also appointed to and served, alongside Chute, on the bi-state California/Nevada consultation committee that guided the development of the recently adopted Tahoe Regional Plan that is administered by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. In 2011, Art was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.

Clem Shute, the co-founder of Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, is an environmental lawyer with deep roots in California and Lake Tahoe. He was involved in the early battles over the formation of TRPA, including property rights issues and a proposed casino.  During the 1980’s he represented the League to Save Lake Tahoe, particularly in the formulation of TRPA’s 1987 Regional Plan.  Thereafter, he represented TRPA in the 2002 US Supreme Court decision upholding the agency’s restrictions on developing on high hazard lands as well as defending TRPA’s successful prohibition on two stroke engines.

“As a lawyer and policymaker, I have been involved in many controversial issues at Lake Tahoe for decades,” said Clem Shute. “It is an honor to join this growing organization which has the non-controversial purpose of supporting projects and programs that will be of great value in sustaining this unique lake.”

The Tahoe Fund has raised private funds for 15 projects in the Tahoe Basin, including a new bike path from Incline to Sand Harbor that will break ground this year. The organization will launch fundraising campaigns for its 2016 projects in early summer. They will feature the acquisition of 200 acres in South Lake Tahoe on the area’s highest priority watershed, a new overlook at Taylor Creek to help improve the visitor experience during the popular salmon run, a restored section of hiking trail on the famed Rubicon Trail on the West Shore, and a new section of Lake Tahoe Bikeway near Dollar Point.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and Nev. – November 17, 2015 – The Tahoe Fund is launching a new project submission process for environmental organizations that would like to partner with the Tahoe Fund to restore lake clarity, improve outdoor recreation and inspire stewardship of the Tahoe Basin.  Organizations are invited to submit project ideas at http://www.tahoefund.org/our-projects/submit-a-project/. The Tahoe Fund Projects Committee will review proposals on a rolling basis, but any projects seeking 2016 support should submit by January 31, 2016.

“We have simplified the process to make it much easier for organizations to share projects with us,” said Tahoe Fund Projects Committee Co-Chair, Jim Lawrence. “We look forward to receiving project ideas that will have a meaningful impact and inspire our private donors.”

Since 2010, the Tahoe Fund has raised funds from private donors for 15 environmental improvement projects including new bike paths, watershed restorations, removal of aquatic invasive species and environmental stewardship programs.  The Tahoe Fund’s biggest project to date is the Incline to Sand Harbor Bike Path that is still open for donations.

Eligible projects must be able to demonstrate that all environmental permits will be obtained, enjoy strong community support, and have other sources of funding identified. Further details can be found at http://www.tahoefund.org/our-projects/submit-a-project/.

Projects should be consistent with the program level priorities established as part of the 2008-2018 Environmental Improvement Update. With the notable exception of education/interpretation projects, the Fund will generally not include funding requests for planning, design, or other pre-construction activities, or for maintenance and monitoring of projects in its portfolios.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – October 19, 2015– The Tahoe Fund is expanding its team with the addition of Catherine Hutton Markwell as Chief of Engagement.  This is a new position for the nonprofit that was founded in 2010 to restore and improve the Lake Tahoe environment.

Ms. Markwell was previously the CEO of The BizWorld Foundation, an international education nonprofit organization.  She and founder, Tim Draper, launched BizWorld from a small Silicon Valley start-up to an international organization.  After a decade with BizWorld, she recently moved to Incline Village, Nevada with her family.

“It is rare that you find an individual with such breadth of nonprofit experience and extensive ties to a global philanthropic community,” said Amy Berry, CEO Tahoe Fund, “We are thrilled to have Catherine join the Tahoe Fund team to help us expand our outreach and impact.”

Ms. Markwell was born and raised in California and has spent considerable time in the Lake Tahoe Region. In her quest for continued philanthropic engagement, she was drawn to the Tahoe Fund to expand support and commitment to the Lake Tahoe Basin.

“Lake Tahoe is a global treasure and the Tahoe Fund is the right steward,” said Ms. Markwell, “I am excited to share opportunities and get others involved from the Bay Area and beyond to preserve the Lake Tahoe Basin.”

Ms. Markwell’s first initiative will be heading up engagement opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area.