Lake Valley Firefighters Foundation thanks the community, uses donations to support others
Submitted by paula on Mon, 11/15/2021 - 8:00am
The Lake Valley Firefighters Foundation would like to thank the community, the 646 individuals who donated to their Community Relief Fund, and the "Angel of Tahoe" Ms. Lisa Maloff, Ricky Reich, and the Upper Montgomery Estates neighborhood for donations to the foundation.
Together, $140,000 was raised.
The Foundation is also expressing its gratitude for the hundreds of food and delicious treat donations from families and local caterers.
"The challenges we faced during the Caldor Fire were aided immensely by your generosity and goodwill," said Foundation President Mike Anderson and Secretary Chris Anton. "Just as our community can count on us, we are blessed to have a community we can also count on when unforeseen circumstances arise."
Members of the Foundation chose to donate $100,000 to the following community organizations that need our support as well: American Climb, Living With Fire, Barton Foundation, LTCC Emergency Fund, Bijou Community School PTA, Meyers Community Foundation, Christmas Cheer, Sierra House Elementary PTA, Community Disaster Resource Center, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Eldorado Community Fund, Soroptimist International SLT, FireFest, South Lake Tahoe Optimist Club, Humane Society of Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Rotary, Kiwanis International South Lake Tahoe, Sugar Pine Foundation, Lake Tahoe Bear League, Tahoe Magic, Lake Tahoe Boys and Girls Club, Tahoe Rim Trail, LTESMS PTA, Tahoe Valley Elementary PTA, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Tahoe Youth and Family Services, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Tamba, Live Violence Free.
The Lake Valley Firefighters Foundation also donated to West Stanislaus Firefighter Richard Gerety who suffered severe burns while battling the Caldor Fire, Harminder Grewal Memorial Fund, and Officer Kapri Herrera. Officer Grewal lost his life and Officer Herrera suffered life-threatening injuries when a truck crossed over the center median on Highway 99 while they were responding to the Caldor Incident.
The Foundation is saving $40,000 of the donations for future programs and projects that support firefighters.
"We look forward to supporting programs and making new purchases that help firefighters do what they do with more safety and wellness in mind," added the Foundation leadership. "On behalf of the Lake Valley Firefighters Foundation, the community we serve, and the agencies who benefit from your kindness and desire to help in a time when our community needed it the most, we thank you!'
They also said they'd like to thank their wives, significant others, and family members for all of their love and support before, during, and after the Caldor Fire.
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."