Homewood Marina partners with the Tahoe Fund and Superior Boat Repair & Sales to expand zero emission watersports on Lake Tahoe with eFoil charging

HOMEWOOD, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2021) – Environmental stewardship is at the heart of Homewood Resort Marina’s operations, with the Marina and its management company JMA Ventures, LLC continuing their commitment to leading the transition to zero emission watersports at Lake Tahoe. In partnership with the Tahoe Fund and Superior Boat Repair & Sales, the Homewood Marina announced today that it has installed the first eFoil charging network at Lake Tahoe. The charging stations are now available for public use.

“Expanding our footprint in electric watersports is a priority of our company because it aligns with our commitment to finding innovative ways to help protect Lake Tahoe for current and future generations,” said Kevin Mitchell, Homewood Resort general manager. “The popularity of eFoiling on Lake Tahoe continues to grow, and we’re thrilled to offer the ability to quickly recharge them at the Marina. In fact, eFoil users can make an experience of it and enjoy a great lunch at West Shore Cafe while they wait for their foil to charge.”

Free to use for eFoil owners, the chargers will be able to fully recharge an eFoil in one to three hours. The chargers build on the Homewood Marina’s electric watersports charging infrastructure, with the Marina recently becoming the first on Lake Tahoe to install Electric Boat (EB) charging stations.

“We’re thrilled to support Homewood Marina’s efforts to continue to expand its electric watersports charging capabilities,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Innovative, forward-thinking initiatives like this aid in the effort to preserve Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity while continuing to give people fun ways to experience the lake.”

Superior Boat Repair & Sales, located at the Homewood Marina has Lift eFoil boards available for sale. The original electric hydrofoil surfboard and the world’s smallest personal watercraft, Lift eFoil boards make it possible to fly over water with no wind or waves.

“We are excited to add to our electric watersports charging program,” said David Topol, Homewood Marina director. “This program began with on-water electric boat charging for the Nautique GS22E and we are happy to add to it with the Lift eFoil charging stations. The growth and interest of the technology over the last few years has been significant and we look forward to seeing offerings expand in Lake Tahoe.”

Bently Nevada, a Baker Hughes business, supports the nonprofit’s environmental initiatives with a $10,000 contribution and employee volunteers

INCLINE VILLAGE and MINDEN, Nev. (July 21, 2021) – The Tahoe Fund announced today that Bently Nevada, a Baker Hughes business and Nevada-based company with a range of wind and hydro technologies, has become its newest corporate community partner. Bently Nevada has made a $10,000 contribution to the nonprofit in support of Tahoe Fund’s environmental projects and will share Tahoe Fund-sponsored volunteer opportunities with employees interested in contributing their own time to environmental stewardship projects.

“We are honored to have Bently Nevada join us as a corporate partner knowing its commitment to sustainability and a goal of achieving net-zero emissions across its operations,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Tahoe Fund’s work is amplified when global companies take an interest in their local communities and immediate environment. With a record high in tourism over the past year, we continue to be committed to finding ways to preserve Lake Tahoe for generations to come. Partnerships like what we’ve established with Bently Nevada allow us to do that.” 

Launched in 2010, the Tahoe Fund has been a leader and convener in the completion of key environmental projects, such as the acquisition of Johnson Meadow and the Tahoe East Shore Trail, which aims to reduce automobile traffic on Tahoe’s East Shore and offer expanded access to recreational experiences. The Tahoe Fund is focused on projects that will restore the forest, improve Tahoe’s famed lake clarity, support more sustainable outdoor recreation, solve transportation issues, and create more stewards of the Tahoe environment.

“The Tahoe Fund has made a tremendous impact throughout the Tahoe Basin over the past decade, and we are confident that together we will accomplish even more,” said Ed J. Boufarah, vice president of Bently Nevada at Baker Hughes. “We are proud to support its work and to give our employees opportunities to volunteer to help with projects that are making a difference and enhancing the sustainability of the Lake Tahoe region for everyone to enjoy.”   

Baker Hughes and its businesses, like Bently Nevada, are committed to achieving net zero emissions from their operation by 2050 and to supporting sustainable communities where its employees live and work through direct corporate contributions and Baker Hughes Foundation grants for environmental, educational, and health and safety programs globally. During 2020, the company and its foundation reported financial and in-kind contributions of $119 million, and Baker Hughes employees volunteered 7,100 hours, despite pandemic restrictions on gatherings.  

New facility made possible by Tahoe Fund donors offers public access to select Tahoe area rehabilitated wildlife for the first time

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (July 16, 2021) – Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) celebrated the opening of their Outdoor Learning Center today, the first public component of their new $6 million campus. Thanks to a $30,000 contribution from Tahoe Fund donors including the Mathman Family and a $15,000 match from Tahoe Blue Vodka, the public will now have the opportunity to see and learn about some of the animals in LTWC’s care. A porcupine, an eagle, Kestrels and owls are a few of the animals the center will use for educational purposes. 

“Thanks to this support from the Tahoe Fund, we now have an outdoor amphitheater that allows us to share some of what we do with the public,” said Bruce Richards, LTWC capital projects director. “The Outdoor Learning Center provides a new opportunity to educate visitors about our efforts and how they can help.” 

“People are more inclined to protect what they understand, so we are happy that visitors will have the unique opportunity to learn about and connect with local wildlife,” said Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund vice chair. “The work the team at LTWC does to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild is well aligned with the Tahoe Fund’s mission.”

Since 1978, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) has rescued, rehabilitated and released over 17,000 orphaned and injured wild birds and animals back into the wild. After outgrowing their original property in the founder’s backyard, through donations and fundraising efforts LTWC purchased its current 27-acre property in South Lake Tahoe in 2015. Seven buildings have been built since, quadrupling the space to care for wild animals.

“Since day one, Tahoe Blue Vodka has committed to giving back to local organizations that are making a difference for Lake Tahoe,” said Matt Levitt, Tahoe Blue Vodka founder and CEO. “Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care has been such a tremendous asset to injured Tahoe wildlife that setting up a matching donation to help create the Outdoor Learning Center just made sense. We’re so excited to see the facility come to fruition and know it will be a great resource in the effort to help educate visitors and residents about the important work LTWC does.”

LTWC will offer seasonal “Wildlife Wednesdays,” educational talks at the Outdoor Learning Center beginning July 21. The free, hour-long presentations will be offered through September by advance reservation only and will feature a rotating schedule of topics and expert presentations. All will include information about what to do if you encounter a bear, and what to do if you come across an orphaned or injured wild animal. Space at each event will be limited and schedules and sign-ups will be available on the LTWC website.