Renovation of 35+ year old facilities at the park will commence this year

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (Feb. 3, 2020) – A successful collaboration between Nevada State Parks, Nevada State Lands and the Tahoe Fund will allow for the renovation and reimagination of the over 35-year old facilities at Spooner Lake State Park, with construction to begin as soon as May 2020. The fundraising campaign spearheaded by the Tahoe Fund to generate $300,000 in contributions from private donors for a new amphitheater has been met, leveraging $2.9 million in public funding for Nevada State Parks to complete the park renovations.

The fundraising goal was met by a lead gift of $100,000 from the E.L. Cord Foundation and major gifts from six other local foundations and philanthropists. The amphitheater will not only provide a place for high quality interpretive programming and community events, it will also act as the southern bookend to the planned Sand Harbor to Spooner Junction section of the new Tahoe East Shore Trail and a major portal for public access to 60+ miles of paths and trails in 13,000 acres of spectacular non-motorized primitive wilderness.

“We are so grateful to the E.L. Cord Foundation and all of our donors for helping make this much-needed restoration possible,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Once again we are seeing the power of philanthropy to improve the Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.”

“Spooner Lake Nevada State Park is the perfect setting for an interpretive center that will benefit both the local community and impress the many tourists from around the world who visit the Lake Tahoe basin every year,” said Bradley Crowell, Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “I want to thank the Tahoe Fund, the Nevada Division of State Parks, and all of the dedicated community supporters for coming together to enhance Spooner Lake State Park and solidify the entire east shore of Lake Tahoe as a world-class recreation destination.”

Expected to take place during the 2020 and 2021 construction seasons, improvements at Spooner Lake State Park will include construction of a new amphitheater and visitor center that will be at the heart of the park. Designed to serve as a base for natural and cultural history programs, ranger-led hikes and tours, and an outdoor science venue for students, the Spooner Lake Amphitheater will be a key connector between the world-renowned backcountry trail systems and the developed area at Spooner Lake that provides recreation facilities to support backcountry activities.

Nevada State Parks has issued a bid package for project construction and hopes to select a contractor and begin construction as soon as May 2020. The project is estimated to be completed by Fall 2021.

Project updates and details related to how visitors can navigate construction-related impacts will be available at parks.nv.gov/spooner.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2020) – A new Outdoor Learning Center will be built this summer at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care’s spectacular new 27-acre property in South Lake Tahoe thanks to the support of the Tahoe Fund and a $15,000 matching grant from Tahoe Blue Vodka, bringing the total grant to $30,000. Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) has a long history of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing over 16,000 of Tahoe’s injured and orphaned wildlife. The new Outdoor Learning Center will expand LTWC’s ability to educate local residents and area visitors and increase wildlife stewardship.

“The work that the team at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care does to rehabilitate and ultimately release animals back into the wild is commendable and aligns perfectly with the mission of the Tahoe Fund,” said Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund board member. “We are pleased to support the efforts of LTWC and are so grateful to Tahoe Blue Vodka and generous donors like the Mathman family who have made this funding effort possible.”

“It is our pleasure to once again support a Tahoe Fund project,” said Tahoe Blue Vodka CEO Matt Levitt. “Since the start of our business we have committed to giving back to the Tahoe environment with every bottle we sell. We are thankful to the Tahoe Fund and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center for creating a great new environmental education learning opportunity in the community.”

In addition to building an amphitheater, LTWC is also expanding the “education animals” in their care to enrich the experience for the visiting public. Currently, LTWC is working with a beaver who has a promising future in education and cannot be released back into the wild due to a neurological problem.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of the Tahoe Fund and the generous donors who made this grant possible,” said Morgan Amsden, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care board president. “The new facility we’re moving forward with is not only going to allow us to improve the care we’re able to provide to animals who need it the most, it will create new experiences for Tahoe area residents and visitors to learn how to co-exist with wildlife and help keep them wild, with programming to be offered by appointment during the summer months.”

Learn more about LTWC and schedule summer programs by appointment at ltwc.org. Learn about projects supported by the Tahoe Fund at tahoefund.org.

Founding Board Member and Former Chair Art Chapman moves to Tahoe Fund Council of Special Advisors; Meg Sandman joins Board of Directors

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2020) – The nonprofit Tahoe Fund today announced that founding board member and former board chair Art Chapman will step down from his board role and join the Tahoe Fund’s Council of Special Advisors alongside former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and former Tahoe Fund board member and long-time Tahoe advocate Steven Merrill. This change comes at the same time Meg Sandman, a seasoned technology and operations executive with significant experience in fundraising, has joined its board of directors.

A Tahoe Fund board member since the nonprofit’s inception in 2010, Chapman was instrumental in building support for the organization from the private community and federal and state leaders. Under his leadership as Board Chair, the Tahoe Fund welcomed President Obama to Tahoe as the organizing sponsor of the 20th annual Tahoe Summit. Chapman also helped develop and grow the $1 for Tahoe program, enlisting the support of Tahoe businesses to help in the mission of the Tahoe Fund. During his tenure, the Tahoe Fund celebrated the groundbreaking of the Tahoe East Shore Trail after raising more than $1 million from the private community for the project. .

“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Art for his leadership and tremendous contributions to the Tahoe Fund over the past 10 years,” said Katy Simon Holland, Tahoe Fund board chair. “The experience he has brought, and the invaluable contributions he has made have helped the Tahoe Fund contribute to the success of environmental projects that are helping to establish a sustainable future for Lake Tahoe.”

Going forward, Chapman will serve on the Tahoe Fund’s Council of Special Advisors, which was created to encourage the involvement of influencers who have demonstrated care and concern for Lake Tahoe and are willing to help advise and provide assistance to the Board of Directors. Specifically, members nominated to this advisory group will weigh in on the organization’s strategic direction, provide counsel on issues facing Lake Tahoe and help introduce other supporters and partners to the Tahoe Fund.

Prior to joining the Tahoe Fund board of directors, Meg Sandman held senior leadership roles at companies including UpCounsel, Inc., 2nd Address (formerly HomeSuite) and HotelTonight. She co-founded Dabble, a personalized shopping aggregator in 2014, and has developed extensive business strategy and fundraising skills throughout her career. Sandman is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Psychology.

“As a fourth generation Californian with family history and involvement in the Tahoe area that dates back to my great grandparents running the Kit Carson Lodge near Kirkwood, I’m thrilled to join the Tahoe Fund’s board of directors,” said Sandman. “I am passionate about Lake Tahoe, and want current and future generations to all be able to enjoy this wonderful place that my family loves so very much. I am confident that my professional experience in areas such as fundraising, partnerships, team building, and operations will allow me to add value to the Tahoe Fund board and the projects it supports.”

“Meg is a perfect fit as a member of our board of directors,” said Simon Holland. “The experience she brings — specifically as it relates to business strategy and fundraising — is sure to be a tremendous asset to the organization.”

The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit organization that supports environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, expand sustainable recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Learn more about the Tahoe Fund and its current and completed projects at www.tahoefund.org.