Ribbon cutting for new "Angel of Tahoe" building for the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's been years in the making, but the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe (BGCLT) is preparing to move into a brand new building in South Lake Tahoe. They held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to celebrate the accomplishment in preparation for the kids being able to start moving in after furniture is in place in February.

The Club celebrated its 30th birthday this past summer and the vision for a clubhouse to call its own was a vision at the inception. They have used the old Al Tahoe Elementary school building for operations since 2007, but when the school district informed BGCLT they were going to reopen it for an expansion of educational programming, the Club knew it was time to finish that vision and find that permanent location.

Edgewood Properties started the building fundraising with a $500,000 donation but the dream didn't turn into reality until Lisa Maloff, the Angel of Tahoe, donated $3 million. The Club then entered into a 50-year land-use agreement with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District and plans were drawn up for the new building adjacent to where they'd been at Al Tahoe Elementary. Kirk and Debbie Ledbetter also stayed with the task of getting a building for the kids from that first vision.

"That donation allowed us to start the project," said BCGLT Board President Terri Arnold said of Mrs. Maloff's initial donation.

Because of her large donation, the new clubhouse will be named the "Angel of Tahoe" Building, a name given to Lisa by former interim Tahoe Youth & Family Services Executive Director Dr. Virginia Berry after the benefactor sponsored her first Christmas party for local children in 2017.

The pandemic didn't even stop them with their plans and a groundbreaking was held at the site on June 20, 2020.

The City of South Lake Tahoe City Council gave BGCLT $200,000 for its building fund from an allocation of its Cannabis Program fund. Several other donors have helped build the new clubhouse, along with an additional $500,000 from Lisa Maloff. They are all honored on a wall at the entrance of the new building.

"This is truly a community project," said Arnold during Friday's ceremony.

As the building took shape, supply chains affected many phases, but project manager Steve Morales and lead contractor Tom Haen of Haen Construction pushed forward and the result is a showpiece. Both men donated their services.

Former board president Jeff Tillman told the Club he was committed to staying on the board until the building was completed. Little did he know that would be a few decades.

"I am so thankful to see this for our kids," said Tillman of the new clubhouse.

During the ribbon-cutting, Ricky Reich stepped in for Lisa and cut the ribbon. Lisa has been at the Boys and Girls Club often over the past several years, donating vehicles, and sponsoring end-of-summer parties.

The impact of a new home for BCGLT is not one to be taken lightly. Every child will be able to reach their full potential and know their self-worth with a new base.

"THey'll know the whole community thought they were worthy," said BGCLT Executive Director Jude Wood.

The building fund is still open as there are still many needs. Interested donors can read more about the building and donate at www.bgclt.org/buildingbrightfutures/. Individuals interested in being major donors to the Building Campaign should contact Jude Wood at 530.542.0838 or jwood@bgclt.org.