Non-profit’s New Private Funding Model for Basin to be Highlighted at Summit on Monday, August 13

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – August 9, 2012 – The need for more public-private partnerships to complete environmental projects at Lake Tahoe is the focus of the 16th annual Lake Tahoe Summit, which will be held this Monday, August 13 at the Edgewood Tahoe resort at Stateline, NV. The free event will be held 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and is open to the public.

“This need is directly addressed by the non-profit Tahoe Fund,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund, which for a second year is the Tahoe Summit Organizing Sponsor. “Our goal is to engage people and organizations with a passion for Tahoe and raise the money needed for environmental projects in the Tahoe Basin. The message at the Summit from our elected leaders will motivate people to become involved in the efforts to improve and enhance the recreation and natural resources of this incredible lake.”

Host U.S. Senator Dean Heller, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Congressman Tom McClintock, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, California Governor Jerry Brown and other officials and experts are expected to talk about the issues facing Lake Tahoe and the need for public partnerships with private sources like private citizens, businesses and foundations to accomplish environmental and recreational improvements in the Tahoe Basin.

The 2-year-old Tahoe Fund has raised more than $700,000 in private pledges since last year. The Tahoe-based organization is holding its second annual Summer Dinner this Sunday at Edgewood  Tahoe’s Historic Friday’s Station to honor its Founders Circle donors who have pledged to financially support the Fund and its goal of providing funding for conservation, recreation and stewardship education projects at Lake Tahoe.

Registration at the 2012 Lake Tahoe Summit will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Edgewood Tahoe resort and presentations will start at 10. Parking will be at the Horizon Casino Resort, 50 Highway 50, Stateline, NV and free shuttles will provide transportation to the nearby Summit venue.

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 to Celebrate Founding Donors on August 12th

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – July 31, 2012 – The Tahoe Fund is encouraging supporters of Lake Tahoe to break out their croquet whites for a good cause. The environmental non-profit is preparing for its 2nd Annual Founders Circle Summer Dinner, to be held at Edgewood Tahoe’s historic Friday’s Station on Sunday, August 12th. Billed as a night to celebrate the organization’s early funders and the Lake, the event will include “Tahoe Croquet” and a gourmet dinner on the lawn. Senators Feinstein, Heller and Governor Brown have all confirmed their attendance.

Founded in 2010, the Tahoe Fund aims to become a major source of private funding for vital environmental improvement projects in the areas of recreation, conservation and education. The organization brings together many interests within the Tahoe basin, with a board of directors comprised of leaders from California and Nevada, North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe, public and private organizations, environmentalists, and developers. The Fund is also the organizing sponsor of the 2012 Lake Tahoe Summit sponsored by Senator Dean Heller on the morning after the Croquet Party at Edgewood Tahoe.

“There is a lot to love about Tahoe,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry, “This magical night will celebrate all that is amazing about Tahoe and recognize our Founders for their support of our vision to ensure Tahoe continues to be enjoyed by many generations to come.”

The Tahoe Fund launched its first major fundraising campaign, the Founders Circle, in March 2011. Since then the organization has raised more than $650,000 in pledges from individuals, businesses and private foundations. The campaign is set to conclude at the end of this year. The Fund will continue to raise funds for environmental projects like bike trails, hiking trails, watershed restoration and stewardship education.

For more information about the Tahoe Fund Croquet Party and the Founders Circle, please email info@tahoefund.org or call 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.

Appointment Comes As Non-Profit Ramps Up Efforts to Grow Awareness and Raise Funds for Environmental Projects in Tahoe

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – May 30, 2012 – The Tahoe Fund today announced the appointment of Amy R. Berry to the new position of CEO. Originally founded in 2010 and supported by volunteer board members, the naming of a CEO is a major milestone for the organization and its mission to raise private and public funding for environmental projects in Lake Tahoe.

Berry joins the Tahoe Fund from ACCIONA Energy North America, where she was the director of marketing and communications and a member of the management committee for the North American arm of one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies.   A seasoned business executive with a successful career in building brands, developing corporate strategies, attracting media attention to causes, and fostering community relations, Berry will begin her new role on May 30th.

“Amy Berry is the ideal choice to lead the Tahoe Fund at this important point in our development,” said Cindy Gustafson, Tahoe Fund chair of the board.  “She has the experience and energy to help us build the organization into a major source of funding for important conservation, education and recreation projects in Tahoe. Her business background and passion for Lake Tahoe will strongly resonate with Tahoe stakeholders, Tahoe Fund donors and her staff.”

The first priority for Berry will be the Lake Tahoe Summit, hosted this year by Senator Dean Heller and sponsored again by the Tahoe Fund. The annual event, held on August 13th, will bring together federal, state and local leaders to discuss the future of Tahoe.  She will also be focusing on the Tahoe Fund’s second annual fundraising dinner on the evening of August 12th, hoping to build on the success of last year’s event that raised more than $600,000.  Both events will be held at Edgewood in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

“It is an honor to take on this new role and to accept the responsibility for leading the Tahoe Fund,” said Amy Berry. “I was immediately drawn to this opportunity by the mission of the organization and the inclusiveness of the Board to bring together so many different interests and voices from across all of Tahoe.  I look forward to working with the board, our donors, and all of the members of the Tahoe community to find solutions and funding for projects that will lead to a sustainable future for the Tahoe we all know and love.”

Berry is a nine-year resident of the Reno/Tahoe area.  Prior to being recruited to ACCIONA in 2010, she was the marketing director for Windspire Energy (formerly Mariah Power) in Reno, where she rebranded the company and helped bring renewable energy to communities across the US.  She worked for local marketing agency, Bauserman Group, and Tahoe Quarterly Magazine prior to Windspire.  Before moving to the region, Berry was a Partner at Ogilvy & Mather in New York City, where she worked on IBM’s global advertising.  She has a certification in planning from the International Association of Public Participation and a degree from Brown University.

Berry was chosen by the board of directors of the Tahoe Fund from an initial pool of over 60 candidates developed in a nationwide recruiting campaign by an executive search firm.

(Photo of Amy R. Berry: http://www.tahoefund.org/media/logos-and-images/)

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 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.

Tahoe Recreation and Conservation Projects Benefit from Mancuso Appearance for Tahoe Fund License Program

TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, NV – April 10, 2012 – The non-profit Tahoe Fund has completed shooting video and still photography featuring U.S. Olympic and World Cup legend Julia Mancuso promoting the Lake Tahoe license plate. Reno photographer Jeff Dow and TahoeTV’s Eric Brandt of Squaw Valley delivered the images of Mancuso, captured Friday atop Squaw Valley on a bluebird day.

In one of the spots, Mancuso says, “As an Olympic and World Cup skier, I’ve seen some of the best that nature has to offer – and Lake Tahoe is special!  When you enjoy the outdoors as much as I do, you know how important it is to protect the Lake. Now, at tahoe-plates-dot-com you can get two free lift tickets when you buy a Lake Tahoe license plate. It helps fund bike paths, hiking trails and conservation work at the Lake.”

Print ads, TV spots and radio public service announcements will highlight Mancuso talking about the Tahoe plate, the two free ski lift tickets that buyers can receive, and how 96 percent of the plate sales and renewals help pay for conservation and recreation projects at Tahoe.
(Production photos available here)

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enrich the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Tahoe Fund raises private money to supplement the dwindling public funds available for such projects.

About the Plate for Powder Program
The Plate for Powder program is the name of the non-profit Tahoe Fund’s efforts to market and motivate sales of the Tahoe specialty license plates made available by the State of California and State of Nevada Departments of Motor Vehicles. Ninety-six percent of Tahoe license plate sales and renewal income supports the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, which focuses on bike paths, hiking trails, parks and conservation. Projects (map) are implemented in California by the California Tahoe Conservancy and in Nevada by the Nevada Department of State Lands. Plate purchasers can receive two free lift tickets for the current ski season when they purchase a plate through tahoeplates.com.

Squaw Valley Skier Coming Off Stunning Season; Will Appear in TV, Radio Spots for Tahoe Plate Program

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and Nev. – April 2, 2012 – Julia Mancuso, coming off gold-winning performances in the super-G and giant slalom Friday and Saturday at the U.S. ski championships in Colorado, has agreed to appear in TV and radio spots promoting the California and Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates. The Tahoe plates help fund recreation and conservation projects at Lake Tahoe, and buyers can still receive two free Alpine lift or Nordic passes to the Tahoe resort of their choice for the current season if they purchase plates through the non-profit Tahoe Fund.

“Julia Mancuso is a remarkable, community-minded athlete who is joining us in an extraordinary cause on behalf of Lake Tahoe,” said Cindy Gustafson, the Tahoe Fund’s chair of the board. “Julia will talk about her love of Tahoe as well as the opportunity for outdoor sports enthusiasts who buy Tahoe plates to get free tickets to enjoy the great snow conditions we have right now.”

Prior to last weekend’s stunning performance, Mancuso, who has won more Olympic medals than any other woman in U.S. Ski Team history, placed fourth overall in the World Cup standings, her best finish since 2008.  She posted two wins and medaled in four other Cup events this winter, capping the season with a strong fifth-place giant slalom finish in the final international race on March 18. Julia joins other Tahoe winter sports legends such as JT Holmes, Jeremy Jones, and Daron Rahlves in pro bono promotional efforts to boost Tahoe license plate sales that benefit Lake Tahoe. (Photos) Commercial production featuring Mancuso, a Squaw Valley resident, is expected to take place in the next two weeks.

New Tahoe specialty plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada. Over 96 percent of the money raised by new plate purchases and renewals is returned to the Tahoe Basin, and there is no additional charge for obtaining Tahoe plates through the Tahoe Fund’s Plates for Powder program (tahoeplates.com).

License plate buyers in California and Nevada who go to Tahoeplates.com will receive two tickets to their choice of the participating resorts: Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe (Alpine and Nordic), Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley USA, Tahoe Donner (Alpine and Nordic), Boreal Ridge, Homewood, Heavenly Valley, Alpine Meadows, Royal Gorge, and Tahoe Cross Country. The free tickets and day passes are valid Sunday through Friday for the 2011/2012 season until supplies run out.

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of the Tahoe Fund is to protect and improve the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support for projects and programs that preserve the Lake for the enjoyment of current and future generations.