What a night—and what an extraordinary community.
For the first year of Tahoe’s Got Talent, we could not have imagined a more meaningful way to bring our community together. A couple of hundred people filled Harrah’s South Shore Showroom on Saturday, September 26, to laugh, cheer, dance, celebrate local talent, and—most importantly—support Tahoe Youth and Family Services and the young people we serve. As we reflect on this magical evening, we are filled with gratitude for the many people who made it possible.
First and foremost, thank you to the entire Harrah’s/Caesars Republic team for welcoming us so wholeheartedly and making us feel at home from the beginning. We are especially grateful to the backstage crew—Dennis, Cap, Alex, Tyler, Dallas, and Jimmy—for guiding us through every step of the process. Your work behind the scenes played an essential role in bringing the show to life, and we truly appreciate everything you did to make the night possible.
To our participants and their families: WOW. You showed up, worked hard, took a chance on something brand new, and created an incredibly fun show. Your talent, energy, and willingness to be part of this first year made Tahoe’s Got Talent what it was, and we are proud of every one of you. One of the evening’s highlights was celebrating the remarkable talent in our community. Congratulations to Taylor Rennee, recipient of the Judge’s Choice Award, and Maven Hayes, winner of the People’s Choice Award. Both performers captivated the audience in their own unique ways and embodied the spirit, courage, and creativity that made Tahoe’s Got Talent unforgettable.
To our judges—Rhonda Keen, Sharon Kerrigan, and Rebekah Chance—and to our incredible emcee, Sara Pierce: thank you for bringing your personalities, humor, and professionalism to the stage and making the evening so entertaining.
To our sponsors and donors: we know local businesses are asked throughout the year to support organizations, teams, schools, nonprofits, and community events. Every yes requires thoughtful choices about where limited resources can have the greatest impact. That is why we never take your support for granted.
Every sponsorship, donation, ticket purchased, vote cast, and shared message represents a choice to invest in this community. That support helps Tahoe Youth and Family Services continue the work that matters: providing behavioral health treatment, mentoring, supportive services, and housing programs for young people throughout the Tahoe community. It also helped us keep the event accessible to families by offering free admission to children 12 and under. Seeing children in the audience enjoy a night out, celebrate local talent, and experience the excitement of live entertainment was one of our favorite parts of the evening. We hope to continue creating an event that welcomes our entire community for many years to come.
A very special thank-you goes to Chris and Mary Strohm for their extraordinary contribution and for believing in what we are building. Your support means more than we can put into words. This was only Year One, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude as we begin dreaming about Year Two. Before we look ahead, we offer one more heartfelt thank-you to all of our sponsors:
Alice Jones • Alpine Smith • Amy Anton • Basecamp Pizza • Barton Memorial Hospital • Bert’s Café • Caesars Republic • Chart House • Cheyanne Lane • Chris & Mary Strohm • Destination Tahoe-The Witt Group • Encompass Youth • Edgewood • Genasci Stigers Family Dental Care • Himmel Haus • Irma D. Andersen • Kerry Campbell Price • KRLT • Luna Lending • Manish Patel / MIRATP, LLC • Maryon Tilley • Meeks Lumber • Millennium Medical Spa • Miss B’s Balloons • Monica & Scott Gustafson • Redwood Printing • Sessions Salon • Signs of Tahoe • Sidestreet Boutique • Tahoe Ale WorX • Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club • The Lodge • Ted Kennedy • Terry Price and Kerry Campbell Price • Tim & Barb Roslansky • Tyler Shewbert, P.E.
Thank you for believing in Tahoe’s youth, investing in this community, and helping make the first Tahoe’s Got Talent a night Tahoe Youth and Family Services will never forget.
–Tahoe Youth and Family Services