“Plates for Powder” program returns for 2014/15 season

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. –  If you love Tahoe and you love to ski or ride, now is the time to take advantage of the “Plates for Powder” program. From now until April 1, individuals who purchase a new Lake Tahoe license plate in either California or Nevada can receive two free lift tickets to one of 13 Tahoe resorts participating in the program.

“Who doesn’t love to ski for free?” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “The resorts in Tahoe have once again stepped up to support the Tahoe environment by providing free lift tickets for those who support the Lake with the purchase of Tahoe license plates.”

Plate sales and renewal fees generate proceeds that go directly to the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands to fund hiking and biking trails and watershed restoration projects. The Tahoe Fund, a bi-state non-profit dedicated to raising money for environmental improvement projects that support lake clarity, recreation and stewardship in the Tahoe Basin, is organizing the program on behalf of the public agencies.

“Tahoe plates support the work we do to restore lake clarity and improve recreation around Lake Tahoe,” said Patrick Wright, Executive Director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “We are so thankful to the resorts for their partnership in making this very popular program happen again this year.”

For those who have already shown their support by purchasing Tahoe plates, the ski resorts will be showing their appreciation to you at a series of on-mountain events the weekend of April 4 and 5. Squaw/Alpine, Heavenly, and Northstar will offer special parking, and food & beverage discounts to anyone who arrives in a car with a current Tahoe Plate. In addition, current Tahoe plate owners can win free lift tickets throughout the winter season through the “Plate Spotting” promotion. A team of Plate Spotters will photograph Tahoe plates “spotted” around Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area. These plates are then eligible for the bimonthly drawing of two lift tickets. The public is invited to spot plates and upload their own photos to the Tahoe Fund Facebook page as well.

The resorts participating in the promotion include Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Heavenly Valley, Homewood, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose, Northstar California, Royal Gorge Cross Country, Sierra at Tahoe, Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Cross Country and Tahoe Donner.

Information on how to purchase a plate and redeem free tickets is available at www.tahoeplates.com. The promotion is available from now until April 1. Some restrictions apply.

Opportunities still available to leave your legacy on the path with donations of $100 or more

LAKE TAHOE Calif. and Nev. (September 3, 2014) – The Tahoe Fund today announced it has met its goal of raising $750,000 in private donations for a spectacular new bike path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park. This private investment will trigger more than 12 million dollars in public funds from federal, state and local governments. The new path will create an incredible recreational amenity on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe while also significantly improving the safety of the highway corridor.

There are still opportunities to be a part of this effort before construction begins in May 2015. All donations of $100 or more will be featured on a donor wall at the trailhead. Engraved Bear and Trout shaped pavers are also available along the path for donations of $2,500 and $5,000.

“It is simply incredible to see the generous support of the private community to bring this world-class walking, running, biking, strolling path to Tahoe,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “We invite individuals, businesses and foundations to add their support for the path and leave their names and legacies on the beautiful eastern shore of Tahoe.”

“The Tahoe Fund was founded to inspire the private community to support great environmental projects in Tahoe,” said Tim Cashman, Tahoe Fund Board Chair. “We are so grateful to everyone that has stepped up to make this dream project a reality.”

Founded in 2010, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund is dedicated to raising private funds for projects that will improve lake clarity, enhance recreation and inspire environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The organization has funded twelve projects that include other new sections of the bike path around the Lake, watershed restoration, removal of aquatic invasive species, and improvements to state parks and public beaches around the Lake.

The Tahoe Fund welcomes donations of any size to help sustain the organization and the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Information is available at info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, Squaw Valley Lodge and Squaw Valley Ski Holdings raise funds to preserve and restore Lake Tahoe and the region’s watersheds through Green Bucks dollar donation program and direct contributions

Olympic Valley businesses have raised $75,000 since 2012 to preserve and restore Lake Tahoe and the region’s watersheds through the Green Bucks program and direct contributions.

Green Bucks is a dollar donation program designed to harness the passion of visitors and residents in order to help care for the region’s extraordinary environment. In Olympic Valley, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, Squaw Valley Lodge and PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn have committed to collecting dollar donations on room nights and season passes to raise funds for Green Bucks.

“Green Bucks is a simple way for those who love it here to help give back,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “We are very thankful for the support of the business community in Olympic Valley and across the region who have all joined in our efforts for this incredible environment.”

“More than just support, as it relates to the Tahoe Fund and the Truckee River Watershed Council, our company maintains shared values along with the same sense of responsible environmental stewardship with these organizations,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings and Tahoe Fund Board Member. “On behalf of the team here at Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, our customers and the community of Olympic Valley, we’re proud to provide this fiscal support so that their projects and work can continue.”

Starting winter 2014-15, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings will also be adding their Food and Beverage program to the list of Green Bucks contributors. To date, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings has raised $66,500 through direct contributions as well as Green Bucks donations raised through Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows season pass purchases and reservations at The Village at Squaw Valley.

“From its very inception, we helped architect and develop the Green Bucks program originally for lodging and our season pass sales channels,” continued Wirth. “We’re now glad to expand its presence by deploying Green Bucks at all of our restaurants throughout the entire Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows experience.”

“Our extraordinary environment is connected, from mountain peaks to iconic Lake Tahoe to the Truckee River watershed,” said Kathy Whitlow, Green Bucks Program Manager for the Truckee River Watershed Council. “We’re excited that area businesses, visitors and residents recognize Green Bucks as a way to support environmental initiatives in the entire region with one, simple program.”

For more information on how to become a Green Bucks business please visit our Green Bucks page.

Senator Dianne Feinstein will host the 18^th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on August 19^th at the historic Valhalla Estate in South Lake Tahoe.  The theme of this year’s summit is “Drought, Wildfire, and Invasive Species: Confronting the Effects of Climate Change on Lake Tahoe.”

The summit is open to the public and will feature remarks from Senator Feinstein, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval. California Governor Jerry Brown will offer a keynote address. Guests are encouraged to register online at www.tahoefund.org/2014summit.

“The Tahoe Fund is thrilled to once again be the organizing sponsor of this important event,” said Art Chapman, vice chairman of the Tahoe Fund board of directors. “The future health of our lake is dependent on the support of our public officials and the private community that is brought together annually at the Lake Tahoe Summit.”

Feinstein is author of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, a bill to restore Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin. The legislation authorizes projects to improve Lake Tahoe’s water clarity, reduce risks for catastrophic wildfires, combat invasive species and protect threatened species and wildlands.

The Tahoe Fund’s annual Founders Circle Summer Dinner, held the night before the summit, is sold out.

Founded in 2010, the Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to raising public and private money for  projects that will improve lake clarity, enhance recreation and inspire environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Tahoe Fund welcomes donations of any size to help sustain the organization and the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Information is available at info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

Organization now focused on new bike path from Incline to Sand Harbor

LAKE TAHOE Calif. and Nev. (Monday, August 11, 2014) – The Tahoe Fund presented checks totaling $131,000 to the recipients of its 2013 Signature Projects in front of a large crowd of supporters on Tuesday. Tahoe Fund donors provided funding that will allow completion of four environmental improvement projects that address erosion control, beach improvements, bike paths and the removal of invasive Asian clams.

The 2013 Signature Projects will help restore lake clarity and improve outdoor recreation in the Basin.  The project recipients were California State Parks for a bridge across the newly restored Angora Creek; Nevada State Parks for beach improvements including new ADA access at Sand Harbor; Tahoe City Public Utility District for a mile section of bike path along the west shore; and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for the removal of Asian clams at the mouth of Emerald Bay.

“The Tahoe Fund’s singular focus is to inspire the private community to support important environmental improvement projects in the Tahoe Basin,” said Tim Cashman, Tahoe Fund board chair. “It is always heartwarming to celebrate our donors’ generosity, especially when we know it will mean great improvements for Tahoe and for the people who love it here.”

The Tahoe Fund presented the checks at an event supporting the Incline to Sand Harbor Bike Path. The organization is seeking to raise $750,000 in private contributions to trigger more than $12.5M in public funding for this 3-mile section of bikeway along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.  Since June, the Tahoe Fund has raised more than $600,000 for the new path. All donations of $100 or more will be featured on a donor wall at the trailhead.  Engraved Bear and Trout shaped pavers are also available along the path for donations of $2,500 and $5,000.

Founded in 2010, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund is dedicated to raising money for  projects that will improve lake clarity, enhance recreation and inspire environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  The organization has funded the Blackwood Creek/Eagle Rock Trail watershed restoration on the west shore; the Incline/3^rd Creek watershed restoration on the north shore; segments of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway in Tahoe City, the west shore and South Lake Tahoe; environmental and recreational improvements at Sand Harbor State Park, Van-Sickle Bi-State Park and Washoe Meadows State Park; Asian Clam removal at Emerald Bay; a Tahoe Beaches App; and the UC Davis “State of the Lake” report.

The Tahoe Fund welcomes donations of any size to help sustain the organization and the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Information is available at info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.