Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care hires new executive director

This story has been updated to reflect incorrect facts listed a press release.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) has announced the hiring of a new executive director. Heidi Volkhardt Allstead will head up the South Lake Tahoe nonprofit whose mission for the last 44 years has been to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured animals. Allstead brings with her more than 20 years of non-profit management experience across a variety of business sectors, and has a deep passion for supporting non-profit organizations during their “next phase” of growth.

During her tenure in the non-profit community, she has helped organizations develop robust grant management processes, institute financial best practices, enhance donor & community relationships, create Board development training programs, as well as provide strategic planning/succession planning and organizational audit processes.

Heidi’s background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Conservation with a minor in Biology from Northern Michigan University. Her previous work includes supporting water quality initiatives, watershed restoration projects, and land conservation efforts in the Great Lakes region. Heidi and her family (including their two awesome dogs) have called Lake Tahoe home since 2008.

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, founded in 1978, seeks to protect and keep wildlife wild and healthy. LTWC has successfully released more than 18,000 animals back into the wild with the support of Wildlife Heroes. Cheryl Milham served as the board-elected executive director from 1986 until her retirement in 2019. Her father, Blaine Bender, was elected president at that time. CHeryl was clearly known, throughout the South Lake Tahoe community as well as the wildlife rehab community for more than 30 years as LTWC’s First executive director.

LTWC was founded in 1978 when Cheryl and her husband Tom managed Bender's Camp Richardson Marina (1976-82). When the Benders sold the marina, the Milhams moved their home and LWTC to Cherry Hills Circle in El Dorado County.

They are one of only four black bear rehabilitation centers in California. LTWC is a recognized charitable non-profit Tax/Federal ID (94-2799765) with 501(c)(3). They partner with learning institutions to use the most up-to-date technology and animal care practices in the rehabilitation of the animals and birds in their care.

For more information on being a Wildlife Hero, visit their website at LTWC.org and follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Learn more about Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and how to get involved at LTWC.org