Tahoe Recreation and Conservation Projects Benefit from Mancuso Appearance for Tahoe Fund License Program

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, NV – April 10, 2012 – The non-profit Tahoe Fund has completed shooting video and still photography featuring U.S. Olympic and World Cup legend Julia Mancuso promoting the Lake Tahoe license plate. Reno photographer Jeff Dow and TahoeTV’s Eric Brandt of Squaw Valley delivered the images of Mancuso, captured Friday atop Squaw Valley on a bluebird day.

In one of the spots, Mancuso says, “As an Olympic and World Cup skier, I’ve seen some of the best that nature has to offer – and Lake Tahoe is special!  When you enjoy the outdoors as much as I do, you know how important it is to protect the Lake. Now, at tahoe-plates-dot-com you can get two free lift tickets when you buy a Lake Tahoe license plate. It helps fund bike paths, hiking trails and conservation work at the Lake.”

Print ads, TV spots and radio public service announcements will highlight Mancuso talking about the Tahoe plate, the two free ski lift tickets that buyers can receive, and how 96 percent of the plate sales and renewals help pay for conservation and recreation projects at Tahoe.
(Production photos available here)

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enrich the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Tahoe Fund raises private money to supplement the dwindling public funds available for such projects.

About the Plate for Powder Program
The Plate for Powder program is the name of the non-profit Tahoe Fund’s efforts to market and motivate sales of the Tahoe specialty license plates made available by the State of California and State of Nevada Departments of Motor Vehicles. Ninety-six percent of Tahoe license plate sales and renewal income supports the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, which focuses on bike paths, hiking trails, parks and conservation. Projects (map) are implemented in California by the California Tahoe Conservancy and in Nevada by the Nevada Department of State Lands. Plate purchasers can receive two free lift tickets for the current ski season when they purchase a plate through tahoeplates.com.

Squaw Valley Skier Coming Off Stunning Season; Will Appear in TV, Radio Spots for Tahoe Plate Program

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and Nev. – April 2, 2012 – Julia Mancuso, coming off gold-winning performances in the super-G and giant slalom Friday and Saturday at the U.S. ski championships in Colorado, has agreed to appear in TV and radio spots promoting the California and Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates. The Tahoe plates help fund recreation and conservation projects at Lake Tahoe, and buyers can still receive two free Alpine lift or Nordic passes to the Tahoe resort of their choice for the current season if they purchase plates through the non-profit Tahoe Fund.

“Julia Mancuso is a remarkable, community-minded athlete who is joining us in an extraordinary cause on behalf of Lake Tahoe,” said Cindy Gustafson, the Tahoe Fund’s chair of the board. “Julia will talk about her love of Tahoe as well as the opportunity for outdoor sports enthusiasts who buy Tahoe plates to get free tickets to enjoy the great snow conditions we have right now.”

Prior to last weekend’s stunning performance, Mancuso, who has won more Olympic medals than any other woman in U.S. Ski Team history, placed fourth overall in the World Cup standings, her best finish since 2008.  She posted two wins and medaled in four other Cup events this winter, capping the season with a strong fifth-place giant slalom finish in the final international race on March 18. Julia joins other Tahoe winter sports legends such as JT Holmes, Jeremy Jones, and Daron Rahlves in pro bono promotional efforts to boost Tahoe license plate sales that benefit Lake Tahoe. (Photos) Commercial production featuring Mancuso, a Squaw Valley resident, is expected to take place in the next two weeks.

New Tahoe specialty plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada. Over 96 percent of the money raised by new plate purchases and renewals is returned to the Tahoe Basin, and there is no additional charge for obtaining Tahoe plates through the Tahoe Fund’s Plates for Powder program (tahoeplates.com).

License plate buyers in California and Nevada who go to Tahoeplates.com will receive two tickets to their choice of the participating resorts: Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe (Alpine and Nordic), Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley USA, Tahoe Donner (Alpine and Nordic), Boreal Ridge, Homewood, Heavenly Valley, Alpine Meadows, Royal Gorge, and Tahoe Cross Country. The free tickets and day passes are valid Sunday through Friday for the 2011/2012 season until supplies run out.

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of the Tahoe Fund is to protect and improve the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that preserve the Lake for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Tahoe Plate Fees Support Parks, Rec, Conservation, Education Projects; 96% of Fees Return to Tahoe Basin

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, NV – Feb. 27, 2012 – New Lake Tahoe license plates are appearing on the vehicle fleets of major ski resorts and businesses in the Tahoe Basin, as support for the Tahoe plate program in California and Nevada continues this winter.

Heavenly Ski Resort helped launch the program in 1996 and has 140 vehicles plated for Tahoe. Northstar Resort, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Tahoe Dave’s Skis and Boards have ordered new Tahoe plates.

The money raised by plate sales funds environmental improvement projects at Tahoe such as bike paths, hiking trails, and conservation efforts, and over 96 percent of Tahoe license plate fees return to the Basin for use on such projects. The Tahoe plates program is being promoted by the non-profit Tahoe Fund, which raises private money to support those enhancements in both states.

“This is a great way for our ski resorts and local businesses to show their commitment to our community and the Tahoe Basin,” said Cindy Gustafson, Tahoe Fund Chair of the Board. “Our resorts already donate ski lift and Nordic tickets for individual Tahoe Plate for Powder buyers, and now they’ve stepped up to make another strong statement of support for a very worthwhile program.”

Squaw/Alpine will outfit over 35 trucks and Tahoe Dave’s will have seven of its vehicles outfitted with Tahoe plates. Northstar Resort and Heavenly Ski Resort have committed to ordering the plates for all new fleet vehicles.

(TV spots and production photos available here)

About the Tahoe Fund

The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. Tahoe Fund supports short- and long-term project-based enhancements to the natural environment and infrastructure of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.

About the Plate for Powder Program

The Plate for Powder program is the name of the non-profit Tahoe Fund’s efforts to market and motivate sales of the Tahoe specialty license plates made available by the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Following administrative costs, 96 percent of Tahoe license plate sales income supports the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, which focuses on bike paths, hiking trails, parks and conservation, public access and education/stewardship projects. Projects (map) are implemented by the California Tahoe Conservancy and in Nevada by the Nevada Department of State Lands.

Pro Skier, Wingsuit Movie Stuntman Supports Tahoe Fund Effort to Raise Money for Tahoe Projects

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif. – February 1, 2012 – Extreme snow sports legend and Transformers film wingsuit stuntman JT Holmes has finished shooting promotional TV spots for the Tahoe Fund’s Plate for Powder program, which gives purchasers of California and Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates two free ski lift or Nordic tickets to the resort of their choice when they order plates throughTahoeplates.com. Holmes, a Lake Tahoe resident, and TahoeTV of Squaw Valley donated time and equipment to produce the spots atop Squaw Valley last Friday.

Over 96 percent of plate fees go to on-the-ground projects such as parks, trails and bike paths, and education and conservation efforts at Tahoe. Drivers who purchase a California or Nevada Tahoe vehicle license plate via the Tahoe Fund website will receive two free ski lift or Nordic tickets to the resort of their choice. New Tahoe plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada.

Tahoe plate sales and renewals in California raise over $1.2 million a year for Tahoe projects, and Nevada plates have earned about $5 million in the past 10 years for Tahoe projects on the Silver State side of the Lake.

“JT was enthusiastic, personable and great fun to be with on this shoot for the Plate for Powder program,” said Eric Brandt, TahoeTV president and CEO. “The program and the Tahoe Fund deserve everyone’s support for the work they are doing on behalf of the Tahoe Basin.”

Tahoe and international snowboard icon Jeremy Jones and the U.S.’ most decorated competition and Olympic skier, Daron Rahlves, already appear in print, TV and radio ads for the Tahoe plate project.

License plate buyers going to Tahoeplates.com will receive two tickets to one of the participating resorts: Sugar Bowl, Boreal Ridge, Homewood,Kirkwood, Heavenly Valley, Alpine Meadows, Northstar-at-Tahoe (Alpine and Nordic), Tahoe Cross Country, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA,Tahoe Donner (Alpine and Nordic), and Royal Gorge. The free tickets and day passes are valid Sunday through Friday for the 2011/2012 season until supplies run out. Standard holiday blackout dates apply to downhill ski areas, including 2/18-2/20. Check with each resort for specific holiday blackout dates.

(TV spots and production photos available here)

About the Tahoe Fund

The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. Tahoe Fund supports short- and long-term project-based enhancements to the natural environment and infrastructure of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.

About the Plate for Powder Program

The Plate for Powder program is the name of the non-profit Tahoe Fund’s efforts to market and motivate sales of the Tahoe specialty license plates made available by the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Following administrative costs, 96 percent of Tahoe license plate sales income supports the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, which focuses on bike paths, hiking trails, parks and conservation, public access and education/stewardship projects. Projects (map) are implemented by the California Tahoe Conservancy.