Basecamp Pizza raises $17,250 for Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A year-long fundraising effort by the staff and management at Basecamp Pizza has netted $17,250 for the Lake Tahoe Education Foundation (LTEF).

On Monday, August 12, the popular restaurants in the Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe presented members of LTEF with a check.

The fundraising included $1 from the sale of all Garlic Chips and culminated in a spring fundraising party at the restaurant in May. The evening featured a pizza, pasta, and salad buffet, drink specials, live music, as well as raffle prizes donated from local merchants. Basecamp closed to the public that evening and donated the food and location while employees donated their time and tips to help make it a success.

“Basecamp Pizza is proud to support our community through frequent fundraising events,” said Ray Villaman, owner and CEO of Tahoe Restaurant Group. “Our teams take great pride in being part of something bigger. We have a lot of staff involvement when possible. We look to employ individuals that have a servant’s heart and have a desire to give back. This night was a collaborative group effort between Tahoe Restaurant Group’s management, Basecamp Pizza employees, LTEF volunteers, and many local companies and individuals who supported with amazing raffle prizes,” he added. “I am particularly proud of our management team including Kerry Walker, and Brandon Martin-Williams, for orchestrating this event, along with assistance from our bar Manager, Nahele Two-Feathers. A big thank you also goes to our generous team members which made this donation possible.”

Basecamp Pizza and Azul Latin Kitchen of South Lake Tahoe, Fireside Pizza at Squaw Valley and Rubicon Pizza at Northstar are all part of the Tahoe Restaurant Group. They were established in 2002 and since then have raised over $100,000 for local non-profits.

“LTEF is awestruck by how wonderful the Basecamp staff was to choose us for a partnership," said the non-profit's Executive Director Brian Hogan. "The fundraising evening could not have been more perfect! The hard work the staff demonstrated was just amazing. The restaurant was packed! And to think the staff all donated their time to our cause! Basecamp’s professional experience and reputation, plus our South Tahoe community who came out to support us, made for a very profitable evening. I commend the company’s focus on community partnerships. By involving their employees they are building strong relationships within their community.”

Beth Delacour the community development manager for LTEF added, “We’re so grateful to the management and staff for the opportunity to raise funds for LTEF.”

Danny Scott, managing partner of Azul Latin Kitchen and Basecamp Pizza Company, and Brian Martin-Williams, assistant general manager of Basecamp Pizza Co., both thanked their staff for helping raise the funds for LTEF as well as thanking LTEF.

"We worked with really great people on this," said Martin-Williams who also appreciated their passion for the cause.

For more information or to make a donation to help the Lake Tahoe Education Foundation realize its goals, go to http://www.ltedf.org/.

The charity selected for the restaurant fundraising efforts during the next year is Live Violence Free of South Lake Tahoe.