Tahoe Fund Raises $55,000 for Critical Tahoe Environmental Projects

Founders Circle members of a Lake Tahoe nonprofit donated $55,000 at Sunday's annual Tahoe Fund Summer Dinner and croquet party for three specific projects that will improve lake clarity and recreational opportunities in the Tahoe Basin. The money raised by the Fund is for shovel-ready public projects that require additional private support to be completed, and was in addition to the more than $120,000 raised by the dinner for the organization.

The three projects chosen to receive funding from Tahoe Fund are the Blackwood Creek Restoration/Eagle Rock Trail on the West Shore, Incline/Third Creek Restoration at Incline Village, and the Rabe Meadow Bike Trail at Stateline.

"It was a fabulous night to celebrate Tahoe," said Cindy Gustafson, board chair of the Tahoe Fund. "We are only in our second year, but we are already seeing how powerful it is to connect people's passion for Tahoe with on-the-ground projects that are really going to make a difference."

California Governor Jerry Brown and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Dean Heller were on hand to personally thank the donors for their support of the Tahoe Fund, which raises private money for bike paths, hiking trails, restoration projects and stewardship education in the Tahoe Basin. The dinner was attended by over 200 people at Edgewood Tahoe's historic Friday's Station residence.

The $30,000 raised for Blackwood Creek/Eagle Rock will allow the project to be completed. Rabe Meadow bike path at South Shore and the Third Creek/Incline Creek Restoration project on the east shore raised a combined $25,000 in project money donated at the Tahoe Fund dinner. Both are now within reach of the amount needed for completion.

The Tahoe Fund's mission fit perfectly with Monday's "Public-Private Partnerships" theme at the 16th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit hosted by Senator Heller and sponsored by the Tahoe Fund. At the event, Senator Feinstein encouraged those who care about Tahoe to support the Tahoe Fund.

"I really want to ask you to participate," Feinstein said to supporters of Lake Tahoe. "Help us raise the private money."

Donations of any amount are welcome by the Tahoe Fund; Founders Circle membership is open to supporters pledging $5,000 or more by the end of this year when the Founders Circle campaign concludes. Information is available at info@tahoefund.org, or by calling 775.298.0035.

About the Tahoe Fund
The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support and funding for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.