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.

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.

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.

Financial support will be awarded to projects providing solutions to Lake Tahoe’s environmental challenges in 2021

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2020) – When she joined the Tahoe Fund as one of its founding board members over 10 years ago, Cory Ritchie was all in on the concept of creating a nonprofit designed specifically to raise money and help get specific, impactful projects done at Lake Tahoe. Fast forward 10 years and the group has made an indelible mark in the region. By generating support from private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged over $3 million in private funds to secure over $50 million in public funds for more than 40 environmental projects.

As the Tahoe Fund 2021 Request for Projects process kicks off, Ritchie, now Vice Chair, offers a tip for organizations planning to submit funding requests: “we look for impact and projects that meet multiple goals.”

The Tahoe Fund’s annual call for projects results in funding for projects designed to restore Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, create healthier forests, improve transportation, create more sustainable recreation, and inspire greater stewardship in the region. Since 2010, the Tahoe Fund has collaborated with organizations to develop Signature and Premier Projects with fundraising goals of $5,000 to $1,000,000 that align with its mission. Organizations can submit projects for consideration by January 29, 2021. 

“Given the context of wildfire in the west–even before the severity of the 2020 wildfires–our board identified forest health as our top priority,” said Ritchie. “We’d really like to move the needle and increase the pace and scale of the work that needs to be done.”

Eligible projects must demonstrate the benefit to the Tahoe Basin, an alignment with a specific goal area, and a general timeline and budget range. Projects should appeal to the private community and must comply with all applicable federal, state and local statutes and regulations. They should also contribute to the attainment of one or more TRPA thresholds and must have completed the environmental review process and been granted approval. 

All submissions will be reviewed by the Tahoe Fund Board, which is tasked with developing the Tahoe Fund’s Signature and Premier Projects Portfolio. Select projects will be invited to provide further details. The Tahoe Fund Board will review proposals on a rolling basis.

Project submissions for early-stage grants through the Environmental Venture Trust or Smartest Forest Fund can also be submitted. These projects should demonstrate how an early investment will be leveraged to secure significantly more funding in the future from public and/or private sources. They should also bring innovative solutions to Tahoe’s environmental challenges.

“We get really excited about projects that simultaneously improve the user experience, improve safety and better protect the environment,” continued Ritchie.

Project guidelines and the request for projects submission form can be found online at www.tahoefund.org/our-projects/submit-a-project/.

Dear Tahoe Fund Friends,

It is with great pride that we present our FY 2019/20 Tahoe Fund Annual Report for our fiscal year that ended on March  31, 2020. As we look back on what we accomplished in the last year, we have a lot to celebrate. As our portfolio of environmental improvement projects has continued to grow, so has the support from our donors, business owners, and partners.

This year, because of your generous support, we have been able to fund a wide range of environmental improvement projects around the Lake. In June, we celebrated the completion and opening of the new East Shore Trail with our partners and the donors who made it possible. With the help of over 40 partners, the Take Care Tahoe campaign grew and messaging was stronger than ever. We also launched the Smartest Forest Fund, designed to increase the innovation and technology needed to significantly increase the pace and scale of forest restoration.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Tahoe Fund was the organizing sponsor of the Tahoe Summit. Hosted by Senator Dianne Feinstein, this year’s focus gave attendees the opportunity to reflect on what has been learned, the progress made, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Our stewardship circle continues to grow. We are so thankful to our donors for their commitment which gives us the ability to plan long-term. We would also like to recognize our Green Bucks business partners for their continued efforts to help us in our mission.

Towards the end of our fiscal year, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Even with a future that is very uncertain for many, the Tahoe Fund will continue to focus on its mission. We will continue to improve the Lake Tahoe environment now and for years to come. Through these times, we will also continue to collaborate with our more than 30 partners as they try to navigate this new world. We know that Tahoe is stronger together.

To view the full report, click here.

Together we are creating a legacy.

Katy Simon Holland
Tahoe Fund Board Chair