SOS Outreach wins $50,000 award from Gatorade

A charity with operations in South Lake Tahoe is the recipient of the national $50,000 Gatorade "For the Love of Sports" campaign. Besides Lake Tahoe, SOS Outreach serves youth in Colorado and Seattle.

"Thank you to the Tahoe community for the support during the For the Love of Sports Campaign to help us win the $50,000," said Theresa Papandrea, VP of Youth Programs for Lake Tahoe.

Papandrea said the SOS Outreach efforts will serve around 700 local youth and 5,000 nationally.

In all of Lake Tahoe there are 225 youth in their long term mentoring program called University, with 125 of those in South Lake Tahoe. The SOS winter sports program kicks off on December 11 with their first Learn to Ride program at Heavenly Mountain with 60 middle and high school youth.

"We have had tremendous support from the Tahoe communities and have filled all of our Mentor and volunteer spots in South Lake Tahoe," Papandrea said.

"As the 23rd winter of programs kicks off across 31 mountain resorts, this significant accomplishment reinforces the strength of the SOS family," said Seth Ehrlich, SOS Outreach Executive Director. "SOS is more than an introduction to outdoor activity, it's about promoting the long-term success of youth through the life changing aspects of achievement in outdoor recreation, positive adult mentorship, service learning and leadership development. SOS is closing the opportunity gap for underserved youth across our programs by providing them the positive intervention that they need to be successful."

SOS Outreach (

Great sports charities are competing in four rounds, with the winner of each round receiving a $50,000 donation. Cast your vote daily to help your favorite charity win big.