Tahoe Fund

What runs deeper than Lake Tahoe? Our desire to preserve it.

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Tahoe Fund Announces $100,000 Match From Tahoe Blue Vodka to Clean Up the Lake

December 3, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Massive effort aims to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe with a SCUBA dive team in 2021 spearheaded by Clean Up the Lake

 TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2020) – Lake Tahoe, long known for its famed clarity and brilliant blue waters has a dirty secret. Beneath the surface, thousands of pounds of trash are breaking apart and impacting the lake’s aquatic habitats. In 2021, an extraordinary effort to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe with a SCUBA dive team of professionals and volunteers will begin. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Clean Up The Lake, the Tahoe Fund has committed to raising funds needed to make it happen. Thanks to this generous partnership with Tahoe Blue Vodka, every dollar contributed to the project fund will be matched up to $100,000.

Last summer, the first phase of the effort resulted in the recovery of over 2,200 pounds of trash from just six miles of Lake Tahoe. Led by Colin West, Clean Up The Lake founder and executive director, the team of divers found everything from tires, golf balls, sunglasses, towels, plastic bottles and aluminum cans to iPhones, boat anchors and pieces of boats. West’s team noticed that trash has been accumulating untouched under the surface of the lake for decades and is committed to doing something about it. Watch the video here.

“We started this project because we wanted to take action before it’s too late,” said West. “Partnering with the Tahoe Fund to generate support for our efforts to clean up the lake has been incredible—particularly because of the contributions they’ve helped us generate from private donors and from local companies like Tahoe Blue Vodka who want to give back.”

With his award-winning vodka made from the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Blue Vodka’s founder and CEO, Matt Levitt, has never been one to shy away from supporting organizations that help preserve the lake and its surrounding environment. 

“From day one we’ve donated a portion of our proceeds to support the ongoing efforts of organizations that work to protect Lake Tahoe,” said Levitt. “When the Tahoe Fund came to us with this opportunity to help clean up the lake, we didn’t hesitate—it’s perfectly aligned with our brand promise and our ongoing commitment to give back to help maintain Lake Tahoe’s clarity.”

“We are thrilled that Tahoe Blue Vodka wanted to help make this project happen,” said Paul Felton, Tahoe Fund board member. “Matt and his team have partnered with us to support a variety of projects over the past eight years that have made a positive environmental impact in the Tahoe Basin. The massive scale of this project and Tahoe Blue Vodka’s tremendous contribution makes this the most significant project we’ve collaborated on to date.”

The estimated project cost to clean up Lake Tahoe is $225,000. Learn more about the project, how to donate, and how to volunteer on dives at www.tahoefund.org.     

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Leave Your Legacy This Giving Tuesday

December 1, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Today is Giving Tuesday, and nothing shows your love for Tahoe like giving back to the Tahoe environment through a gift to the Tahoe Fund. 

Thanks to your support, we have proven the power of philanthropy by helping to secure more than $50 million in public funding and completing over 40 projects. 

Today, you can support the Tahoe Fund with general donations or by contributing to one of our exciting new projects such as the Tahoe Trails Endowment, Clean Up the Lake, or the Smartest Forest Fund.

Give today and help us use the power of philanthropy to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tahoe Fund Talks: The CARES Act Impact on 2020 Giving

November 23, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

While COVID prevents us from hosting our traditional in-person get togethers, we are launching a new virtual series we call Tahoe Fund Talks. From time to time, we will host an expert to share their insights into things related to the work we do. 

We are thrilled to announce our first talk will be with Gigi Orta, Trust & Estate Specialist, Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. She has an extensive background on trusts, estate and taxes. 

She has offered to spend some time with us on Thursday, December 10th at 3:30pm to review the big changes the CARES Act creates for charitable donations made before Dec 31, 2020 and how that may impact your annual and long-term giving. 

If you can join us, please register at this link. 

This invitation is open to our Stewardship Circle donors only.

To learn how you can join our Stewardship Circle please email Karolina Hedman at khedman@tahoefund.org. 

Filed Under: Events

TAHOE FUND CREATES ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT TRAILS IN THE REGION

November 23, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Photo Credit: Anthony Cupaiuolo/First Tracks Productions

The new Tahoe Trails Endowment will provide funding for annual trail work

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2020) – The nonprofit Tahoe Fund has launched a new effort to create a $3 million endowment to generate enough funding to pay for annual trail work in the Tahoe region. The campaign, started with a $100,000 contribution from trail enthusiasts Chris and Viktoria McNamara, represents a long-term commitment to caring for the trails everyone loves.

“Historically our focus as an organization has been to help expand the Tahoe trail network so we can spread people out and build new trails that not only provide recreational opportunities, but reduce erosion that can affect lake clarity,” said Julie Teel, Tahoe Fund board member. “This trail endowment exemplifies our mission of using the power of philanthropy to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy. We will continue to support new trails, but this endowment will help address the need for long-term care of the entire trail network.”

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the strain on Tahoe’s trail system as people began spending more time outdoors. Despite “stay-at-home” orders, use of Tahoe’s trails exploded, with one trail counter at DL Bliss State Park recording higher usage in April 2020 than in July 2019. Since then, things have not slowed down.

Although trails provide a healthy way for people to recreate outdoors, increased use puts real stress on both the natural environment and land managers as trails and trailheads fill up. By generating a constant stream of funding to pay for ongoing maintenance, Tahoe’s trail network will benefit from regular maintenance designed to ensure the trails are fun and erosion free.

While building the endowment, the Tahoe Fund is also working with its trail partners at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, Truckee Trails Foundation and public land managers to develop a Trails Master Plan that will outline priority ranking for trail maintenance and allow everyone to think and plan long-term.

To help grow the endowment, an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar donated up to $100,000. Learn more and contribute to the Tahoe Trails Endowment at www.tahoefund.org.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: 10 Inches

November 19, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

In Tahoe, 1 inch of precipitation is equal to about 10 inches of snow. This week’s storms brought over a foot of new snow. Thanks to the reporting from ski resorts around the Basin, it is easy to find how the snow is falling at your favorite resorts. To get up-to-date snow reports and mountain information, we recommend visiting Tahoe Daily Snow. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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PO Box 7124  |   Tahoe City, CA 96145  |   775.298.0035

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Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council