PlumpJack Group President Brings Lifelong Passion and Successful History of Fundraising to Environmental Nonprofit

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – April 17, 2013 – The Tahoe Fund, the only non-profit dedicated to funding environmental improvement projects in Tahoe, today announced the election of Hilary Newsom to its board of directors.  Newsom is currently President of San Francisco based PlumpJack Group, owner of the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn.  Newsom has long family ties to Lake Tahoe, dating back to 1960 when her grandfather signed a 99-year lease at Olympic Village. Newsom brings an extensive history of philanthropy and fundraising to the organization.

“Hilary has an incredible passion for Tahoe and significant success raising funds for causes she cares about,” said Cindy Gustafson, Chair of the Board. “We are thrilled to have her support in our efforts to raise money for environmental projects around the Lake.”

“I have spent much of my life enjoying the splendor of Tahoe’s environment,” said Newsom.  “I am honored to join this wonderful organization and its board of directors in their efforts to preserve it.”

Passionate about philanthropy since childhood, Newsom is a compassionate and committed fundraiser on behalf of several charitable organizations.  Newsom is also on the board of Holy Family Day Home and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) and serves on countless benefit event committees.  She and her husband founded the annual PlumpJack/LINK Golf Classic 14 years ago that has raised more than $2.8 million dollars for the fight against breast cancer.

Founded in 2010, the Tahoe Fund is a bi-state nonprofit dedicated to raising money for  projects that will improve lake clarity, enhance recreation and build a stronger sense of environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  The organization has funded two high priority watershed restoration projects, the Blackwood Creek/Eagle Rock Trail restoration on the West Shore and the Incline/3rd Creek Restoration on the North Shore; segments of the Tahoe Bikeway in Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe; the Van-Sickle Bi-state Park in South Lake Tahoe; and the UC Davis “State of the Lake” report. In addition to these projects, the Tahoe Fund is also seeking donations to its “Founders Circle” campaign to help sustain the organization.

Donations of any amount are welcome by the Tahoe Fund. Founders Circle membership is open to supporters pledging $5,000 or more. Information is available at www.tahoefund.org or by emaling info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

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 and funding for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.

Media Contact:
Lauren Swanson
The Tahoe Fund
info (at) tahoefund.org
Phone: 775.298.0035

Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood customers support Tahoe through dollar donations on lift tickets and season pass sales

Truckee, CA. – April 3, 2013 – The check is courtesy of donations from guests at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood who added a dollar donation while purchasing online lift tickets, season passes, lodging and rounds of golf.  This is the second donation the Tahoe Fund has received through the on-going dollar program, bringing the total of donations from guests of Vail Resorts in the Tahoe area to almost $60,000.

“Through the Vail Resorts Tahoe Fund donation program, we have been able to raise significant dollars that go directly to protecting our landscapes and providing sustainable access to the places that make Tahoe special,” said Blaise Carrig, president of Vail Resorts mountain division. “Our guests feel an immediate connection by being able to make a tangible impact on the places they love.”

“We are so grateful to Vail Resorts for putting the dollar donation program in place,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We would like to extend a huge thank you to the guests of Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood for their generous support for our efforts to preserve the Tahoe environment.”

Founded in 2010, the Tahoe Fund is a bi-state non-profit dedicated to raising money for  projects that will improve lake clarity, enhance recreation and build a stronger sense of environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  The organization has funded two high priority watershed restoration projects: the Blackwood Creek/Eagle Rock Trail restoration on the West Shore and the Incline/3^rd Creek Restoration on the North Shore; segments of the Tahoe Bikeway in Tahoe City and South Lake Tahoe; the Van-Sickle Bi-state Park in South Lake Tahoe; and the UC Davis “State of the Lake” report.

Donations of any amount are welcome by the Tahoe Fund. Information is available at info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

Buy a Tahoe License Plate and Receive Two Free Lift Tickets

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – March 11, 2013 – California and Nevada residents can take advantage of the 35 inches of new Tahoe snow with two free lift tickets through the popular “Plates for Powder” program offered through the Tahoe Fund. Purchase a new California or Nevada Tahoe license plate and you are eligible for two free Alpine or Nordic lift tickets. Tickets are available at 11 participating Tahoe resorts.

“With all this great new snow the Tahoe resorts are looking terrific,” said Tahoe Fund’s CEO Amy Berry. “Now is the perfect time to purchase a Tahoe plate and make great use of two free lift tickets while helping improve our extraordinary environment.”

Over 96% of the funds raised through the plate sales go directly to the state agencies, California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands, to fund hiking and biking trails and watershed restoration projects. The Tahoe Fund, a basin-wide non-profit dedicated to raising money and support for environmental improvement projects that will improve lake clarity, recreation and stewardship around the Lake, is organizing the program on behalf of the public agencies.

The resorts participating in the promotion include: Alpine Meadows, Heavenly Valley, Homewood, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose, Northstar California, Royal Gorge Cross Country, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, and Tahoe Cross Country.
Current Tahoe license plate holders are also eligible for free tickets through the “Plate Spotter” program.  Owners of Tahoe plates can post a photo of their Tahoe plate to the Tahoe Fund Facebook page. A winning photo is chosen weekly to receive two free lift tickets from one of the participating resorts.

Information on how to purchase a plate and redeem free tickets is available at www.tahoeplates.com. The promotion is available through April 15. Some restrictions apply; visit the website for more details.

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 and funding for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.

Non-profit Buoyed by Donors’ Passion to Support Tahoe Environment

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – March 5, 2013 – The Tahoe Fund, the first and only non-profit in Tahoe dedicated to funding environmental improvement projects in the Tahoe Basin, today announced a million dollar fundraising goal for its Founders Circle campaign. Launched by the organization’s board of directors to provide a sustainable foundation for future growth and service to the Tahoe environment, the Founders Circle campaign has raised more than $850,000 in multi-year pledges and donations for the Tahoe Fund since May 2011 . The board of directors recently voted to keep the campaign open until the one million dollar goal is achieved.

“Our mission has clearly connected with the people who love this Lake and want to help care for it for many generations to come,” said Art Chapman, Treasurer of the Board. “We are hopeful to connect with more individuals, foundations and businesses who share our passion to restore Tahoe with a push for one million dollars from our Founders Circle.”

Since its founding in 2010, the Tahoe Fund has raised awareness of the need for more funding for critical environmental improvement projects around the Basin. The Fund was the organizing sponsor of the 2011 and 2012 Lake Tahoe Summits where Governors and US Senators from both California and Nevada convened to discuss the importance of preserving Tahoe’s extraordinary environment.  In addition to the Founders Circle campaign, the Tahoe Fund raised more than $55,000 for three environmental improvement projects at the 2nd Annual Founders Circle Summer Dinner in August. Those projects were the Blackwood Creek/Eagle Rock Trail restoration, Incline/3rd Creek restoration and the Rabe Meadow bike trail.

Donations of any amount are welcome by the Tahoe Fund. Founders Circle membership is open to supporters pledging $5,000 or more. Information is available at www.tahoefund.org or by emailing info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

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 and funding for projects and programs that preserve the Lake for current and future generations. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.