Tahoe Fund selected to receive proceeds from event featuring professional skier Ingrid Backstrom 

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2021) – It’s not too late to register for the fourth event of the 2020-21 Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series and support the Tahoe Fund. Scheduled to take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, the free live streamed event will feature a presentation by professional skier Ingrid Backstrom followed by a live raffle that includes coveted outdoor gear. Tickets for the live raffle are available for purchase upon registration for the free event, with proceeds benefiting the Tahoe Fund. 

An eagerly anticipated winter storytelling tradition for North Lake Tahoe’s adventure community, the Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series attracts over 4,000 attendees annually and has successfully generated more than $50,000 per show for local nonprofit organizations. The Tahoe Fund is the beneficiary of the February 4 event.

Backstrom, a professional skier of international fame, will present “Little Big Mountain Skiing,” showcasing a few of her best trips and ski lines. She will also share how she has continued to manage her ski career while becoming a mother.

“The Tahoe Fund is honored and humbled to have been selected by Alpenglow Sports as one of the nonprofits benefiting from its successful winter speaker series,” said Jim Porter, Tahoe Fund board member. “Over the past 15 years, Brendan Madigan and Alpenglow has done a phenomenal job sharing the inspiring stories of athletes in our community and beyond, while motivating people to give back to organizations that keep our community moving forward. We are thrilled to be part of this event and grateful for the support.”

Alpenglow Sports will give away over $10,000 in outdoor gear during the live broadcast. Everything from skis to jackets and other outdoor swag will be part of the raffle giveaway, with entries starting at just $5.

Event registration is free! Register Here.

Program provides mentorship, outdoor experiences and facilitates local service projects designed to impart leadership skills and cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2021) – When he participated as a mentor for the SOS Outreach program for the first time last year, Crew Stover had few expectations. He finished the first day of skiing at Northstar with his group of fifth graders with a renewed sense of purpose and understanding of the real, impactful ways the program gives back to the kids and the community.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to be part of the SOS Outreach program. Not only is it awesome to see these kids learn how to ski or snowboard and become passionate about recreating in the mountains, it’s a privilege to help them grow as people,” said Stover who is also a program and outreach coordinator for the Tahoe Fund. “The SOS Outreach program curriculum both on and off the mountain helps kids build confidence and develop skills they’ll use throughout their lives.”

The Tahoe Fund announced its support of SOS Outreach with a $30,000 program grant to expand its impact in North and South Lake Tahoe. SOS Outreach is a nonprofit that provides opportunities for underserved youth to experience the outdoors while participating in a mentorship program that is designed to prepare them for life’s challenges. Every winter, kids who would not normally have the opportunity, enjoy five ride days at Northstar or Heavenly with their mentors. Off the slopes, they engage in social service projects that help improve their local community. 

In North and South Lake Tahoe, more than 250 kids learn to ski and snowboard, learn leadership skills and the importance of protecting the environment through service projects each year. In the summer months they learn to fly fish, river raft and mountain bike. 

The effectiveness of the SOS Outreach program is clear. Over the past 10 years, SOS programs have led to more kids graduating from high school, attending college, finding careers and giving back to their communities. In fact, 96% of SOS youth plan to attend college, and 61% return to mentor peers.

“Our programs are designed to help underserved youth in our community discover joy through outdoor recreation they might not otherwise have access to, feel included, overcome challenges, improve their mental health, and become strong leaders,” said Theresa Papandrea, senior regional director, SOS Outreach. “We’re thrilled the Tahoe Fund supports our goals and has agreed to help us deliver this important programming to local kids.”

“The goals of the SOS Outreach program align perfectly with the Tahoe Fund’s commitment to sustainable recreation and environmental stewardship,” said Katy Simon Holland, Tahoe Fund board member. “On behalf of our donors, not only are we pleased to contribute to such a valuable program, we appreciate the opportunity for our staff to participate as mentors to the local youth who are part of this incredible program.”
Learn more about the Tahoe Fund and the programs it supports at www.tahoefund.org.

SCUBA dive team effort to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe will begin in earnest in Spring 2021

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2021) – The Tahoe Fund announced today that Tahoe Blue Vodka’s generous $100,000 match has been met, allowing the nonprofit Clean Up The Lake to begin its massive effort to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe this spring. Support to meet the match was overwhelming, with more than 135 businesses and people donating to the cause,  including $25,000 from Vail Resorts. 

Beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe, long known for its famed clarity and brilliant blue waters, thousands of pounds of trash are breaking apart and impacting the lake’s aquatic habitats. A SCUBA dive team of professionals and volunteers, spearheaded by Clean Up The Lake, now has the support it needs to begin an extraordinary effort to recover trash that has been accumulating untouched under the surface of the lake for decades.

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, and solidified interest in the expansion of the project to include the entire circumference of the lake. Led by Colin West, Clean Up The Lake founder and executive director, the team of divers will begin the project in May and expect to have the cleanup completed by the end of October 2021.

“I am humbled and grateful to those who value this project and the effort to clean up the lake,” said West. “The support the Tahoe Fund was able to generate from organizations like Tahoe Blue Vodka and Vail Resorts, as well as from individual donors, has been tremendous. We can’t wait to get started!”

Tahoe Blue Vodka’s award-winning spirit is made from the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe, so stepping up to support this effort was an easy decision for founder and CEO Matt Levitt.

“Since I started Tahoe Blue Vodka, our mission has always been to give back to organizations and efforts that work to protect Lake Tahoe,” said Levitt. “It’s incredible to see the passion that people have for protecting the lake’s clarity and how matching donations like this one can inspire people to give back and make a difference.”

“We are in awe of how quickly the community stepped up to ensure this project met its funding goal so that it can move forward. We are so thankful to Tahoe Blue Vodka for their inspiring matching donation,” said Paul Felton, Tahoe Fund board member. “The passion for Lake Tahoe is undeniable, and we look forward to the kick-off of this massive cleanup effort in the spring.”

Learn more about the project and how to volunteer on dives at www.tahoefund.org.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2020) – The Tahoe Fund announced today that the PBS member stations in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada will rebroadcast the 24th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit. The event occurred virtually for the first time on August 25, 2020. Hosted by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the theme for this year’s Summit was “Resilient Tahoe.” Presentations reflected the legacy of bi-state cooperation and bipartisan collaboration, while looking ahead to future environmental challenges. David Wise, Nevada native and two-time Olympic gold medalist, delivered a keynote on the importance of resilience.

The program will be seen on PBS Reno on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 1:00pm or on Vegas PBS Jackpot! (COX 111) on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:00pm.

“I’m delighted that our state’s PBS stations are broadcasting this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Protecting the lake’s fragile ecosystems, promoting economic stability and working toward a sustainable future are all crucial to the long-term well-being of one of Nevada’s greatest treasures. I hope this broadcast engages more Nevadans in this important conversation and reminds us all of the resilience of Lake Tahoe and its surrounding communities.”

“This is the first time the Annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be broadcast in its entirety on public television,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “As the organizing sponsor, we are thrilled to partner with PBS to expand the audience for this important event.”

Joined by members of Nevada’s and California’s congressional delegations and governors, as well as scientists and conservationists, the Summit focused on the success of public-private partnerships to protect Lake Tahoe and the challenges confronting the Tahoe Basin during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future.

The 2020 Lake Tahoe Summit included remarks from U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (NV), U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA), U.S. Senator (now Vice President-elect) Kamala Harris (CA), U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (NV), Congressman Tom McClintock (CA), Congressman John Garamendi (CA), Congressman Mark Amodei (NV), Governor Steve Sisolak (NV), Governor Gavin Newsom (CA), and Randy Moore, regional forester, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region.

The program also featured a scientific presentation delivered by Dr. Monica Arienzo, assistant research professor at Desert Research Institute about microplastics, the “invisible invader” at Lake Tahoe.

Vail Resorts’ donation will be matched entirely by Tahoe Blue Vodka to help meet project goal 

The Tahoe Fund announced today that Vail Resorts has contributed $25,000 in support of its campaign to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe with Clean Up The Lake. The project will be completed by a SCUBA dive team of professionals and volunteers that will begin in Spring 2021. Vail Resorts’ donation, generated by $1 guest donations from lift ticket and season pass sales, brings the project closer to meeting a $100,000 match provided by Tahoe Blue Vodka.

“Having the support of Vail Resorts for a project of this magnitude is amazing,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “This project started as a grassroots effort that has quickly grown legs thanks to Tahoe Blue Vodka’s matching donation. Vail Resorts’ donation puts us that much closer to achieving the plan to remove trash around the entirety of Lake Tahoe.”

Lake Tahoe has long been known for its clarity, but it has been hiding a dirty secret beneath the surface. Thousands of pounds of trash are breaking apart and impacting the lake’s aquatic habitats.  

When this project gets underway, a team of divers will work to recover trash that has been accumulating untouched under the surface of the lake for decades. Watch the video HERE.

“Our employees and our guests care deeply about doing what we can to help care for Lake Tahoe and the greater community,” said Deirdra Walsh, vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort. “Supporting this project is not only a terrific way to put funds raised through our guest donation program to work, but it will give our employees an opportunity to volunteer next summer to help with the hands-on cleanup effort.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Vail Resorts team for stepping up with such a tremendous contribution to help make this project happen,” said Colin West, founder and executive director of Clean Up The Lake. “This project is showing the power of partnership when we all come together for the love of Lake Tahoe.” 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.