All bar and raffle purchases at the event will contribute towards this goal

For the 20th anniversary of the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, Alpenglow Sports and the Tahoe Fund are partnering together again in the name of fundraising. The Tahoe Fund has generously committed to match up to $20,000 of all in-person funds raised at the five Winter Speaker Series events, 100% of which will be distributed to the five nonprofit beneficiaries of the season! This means that all bar and raffle ticket purchases at each of the five shows will contribute towards reaching this meaningful goal. 

Last year, the Tahoe Fund supported the series in a similar manner—a $19,000 match for 19 years of the Winter Speaker Series—and the outcome was incredibly successful. After the community rose to the occasion and met the initial $19k match early on, the Tahoe Fund doubled the opportunity, resulting in an additional $38,000 raised for the supported nonprofits, or $7,600 each.

“Our team is in awe of the way the community comes together through the Winter Speaker Series in the pursuit of growth. What’s next? How can we do more?” says events manager at Alpenglow Sports, Stef Pyatt. “The conversations that we get to have with the team at the Tahoe Fund are no different as they inspire us to lead with that mentality and keep finding new avenues to support the nonprofit beneficiaries of each season. We are so grateful for their continued partnership and commitment to our community.” 

For the 2025-26 season, the nonprofit beneficiaries include Truckee Dirt Union, Truckee Roundhouse, Lake Tahoe Waterman Association, Headwaters Science Institute, and Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association (TCCSEA) respectively. Broadly, this group of organizations provide access to community, outdoor recreation opportunities, and educational programs for everyone. Every show will offer an opportunity to interact with the incredible people behind these organizations and learn more! 

“For 20 years, the Alpenglow Speaker Series has brought our community together to hear from incredible storytellers while also inspiring people to give back to this region,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “In honor of this milestone anniversary, the Tahoe Fund is honored to match all in-person donations up to $20,000 so these five nonprofit beneficiaries can help even more people experience the wonders of outdoor recreation.” 

Enjoy the kick off Winter Speaker Series show, “Yosemite and Beyond” with Emily Harrington and Truckee Dirt Union on Friday, 12/5 at the Palisades Tahoe Olympic Village Event Center and help the series reach $20,000 of in-person funds raised for local nonprofits! Head over to Alpenglow Sports’ website for more details about this event, and to see the rest of the Winter Speaker Series lineup. 

Released at Red Sky Summit, new guide offers a tech-focused blueprint to better prepare communities for wildfire

As wildfire risk intensifies across the West, the Tahoe Fund and partners today unveiled the Fire Smart Community Pilot Playbook at the Red Sky Summit, a gathering of leaders focused on wildfire technology solutions.

The new Playbook captures the process and lessons from the Fire Smart Community Pilot in Tyrolian Village (Incline Village, Nevada) — a first-of-its-kind initiative launched in 2025 to create the most fire-ready community in Lake Tahoe. The Pilot brought together advanced modeling tools, wildfire researchers, local fire districts and homeowners to identify and implement the “mitigations that matter most” for reducing wildfire risk.

“The Fire Smart Community Pilot proves that when you combine the right people, technology and commitment, communities can dramatically increase their wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We were proud to launch this Playbook at the Red Sky Summit, where we know so many leaders gather to innovate on wildfire resiliency. We hope this can be a model they can take home to their communities.”

A Model for Action

Developed in partnership with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD), Tyrolian Village HOA, The Climate and Wildfire Institute, Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside, BurnBot, and Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, RockRose Risk and Tahoe Fund, the Pilot demonstrates how neighborhoods can integrate cutting-edge risk modeling, innovative techniques for mitigating risk, and homeowner engagement to measurably reduce fire danger.

Key outcomes to date include:

• 61 acres of fuel treatments completed in Tyrolian Village, including 34 acres treated by BurnBot in under one week.
• 228 home inspections conducted through Fire Aside, providing residents with personalized defensible-space and home-hardening recommendations.
• Four additional pilots launched across the Tahoe Basin in Nevada and California, expanding this collaborative model region-wide.
• Positive insurance results emerging, including a 33% premium reduction for the McCloud HOA in Incline Village following mitigation actions.

“Technology like Vibrant Planet’s modeling and Fire Aside’s inspections allowed us to prioritize high-impact mitigations quickly,” said NLTFPD Chief Ryan Sommers. “These tools empower fire districts and homeowners alike to make smarter, faster decisions that save both time and property.”

Lessons for Replication

The Playbook provides a step-by-step guide for communities to replicate the Pilot, emphasizing the importance of:

• Strong local leadership from fire districts and community champions;
• Early engagement of technology partners and researchers;
• Collaboration with insurers to align risk reduction with coverage. 

“This isn’t someone else’s project. It’s ours — our neighborhood, our homes, our future,” said Greg Erfani, President of the Tyrolian Village HOA. “By treating our forest, hardening our homes and stepping up together, we’re showing that real change happens when a community decides it will defend itself. We’re sharing our lessons so that other communities can learn what we learned.”

To download the Playbook or connect with project partners, visit tahoefund.org/firesmartpilot or email info@tahoefund.org.

Ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of this new feature off Mt. Rose Highway

There’s a new way to experience one of Tahoe’s most loved outdoor recreation spots. The Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp is officially open, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the stunning boardwalk trails just off Mt. Rose Highway.

“Accessibility is a key part of ensuring that everyone can enjoy the beauty of Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “This new ramp will help make Tahoe Meadows available to everyone, and we’re incredibly grateful to all of our partners and donors who helped make it happen.”

The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie. The ramp was built by Granite Construction in partnership with the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District. 

The idea for this new ramp was originally brought to the Tahoe Fund by Reno community member Roberta Ross. “For years, it has been my dream to make this ramp a reality, and now here we are,” said Ross. “My message to everyone is that you too can make a difference. If you have an idea to bring change to your community, you can make it happen.” 

At a ribbon cutting ceremony today, the partners and donors who made this project possible gathered to celebrate the opening of the new ramp. “This place provides a sense of connectivity with nature, especially for our northern Nevada community,” said Jesse Murray, sr. vice president of energy delivery at NV Energy and a member of the Tahoe Fund’s Forest Committee. “NV Energy Foundation is thrilled to bring this ramp to life alongside the Tahoe Fund as it ensures sustainable and inclusive outdoor recreation for generations to come.”

In addition to the new ramp, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District have also been replacing sections of the boardwalks that were due to be decommissioned. Together, these projects mark major improvements in the Tahoe Meadows that will help transform this area into a hub for outdoor accessibility in the Tahoe Basin. 

Leaf peeping and wildlife viewing are on everyone’s agenda this fall, and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center is one of the best places for it! Located on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, Taylor Creek Visitor Center welcomes more than 150,000 visitors every year. For many, it’s their very first introduction to the magic of Tahoe. For locals, it’s a cherished place to return to season after season. 

Over the years, the Tahoe Fund has supported numerous projects at this beloved site. One highlight was the addition of a new boardwalk and overlook in 2017. The overlook was thoughtfully designed to provide visitors with an accessible viewing area while keeping everyone a safe distance from bears and other wildlife. 

The Stream Profile Chamber is one of Taylor Creek’s most iconic features, giving visitors the ability to experience an underwater view of the creek’s vibrant ecosystem. Each school year, the Visitor Center welcomes more than 150 students a day, bringing classroom lessons to life through an up-close look at aquatic ecology.

When the chamber’s glass broke in May 2018, the chamber had to be closed until funding could be secured for repairs. Thanks to our partners at Tahoe Blue Vodka, we were able to step in and help bring this unique Tahoe treasure back to life.

Taylor Creek also has four trails with interpretive panels about the region’s rich cultural and environmental history. By 2022, the original panels from 1999 had become worn and weathered. Thanks to our amazing donors and partners, 23 brand new panels and displays were installed. These were also transcribed and recorded into the Basin’s first trilingual audio tour, available on the TravelStorys platform in Spanish, English and Washoe.

Thanks to donors like you, this special place continues to inspire curiosity, connection, and care for our local environment. The next time you visit, know that your support of the Tahoe Fund has helped ensure that Taylor Creek remains a place for everyone to experience the magic of Lake Tahoe.

This summer, over 60 kids from South Lake Tahoe spent their days climbing, golfing, and even attending a sleep-away camp as part of the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe’s Summer Adventure program. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this program helped open the doors to new experiences right here in Lake Tahoe:

• Weekly classes at Blue Granite Climbing Gym introduced youth to the thrill of indoor climbing.
• First Tee lessons at Bijou Golf Course gave participants their first taste of life on the green.
• A teen sleep-away camp brought together 25+ kids for three days of outdoor fun, teamwork, and lifelong memories.

By removing financial barriers, this program ensured children of all backgrounds could explore Tahoe’s outdoors together in a safe, supportive environment. Along the way, they built confidence, self-esteem, and a deeper connection to nature.

Together, we’re giving Tahoe’s youth life-changing opportunities and helping them create memories they will carry forever.

Thank you for making this impact possible.