Tahoe Fund doles out $50,000 to 3 projects

The nonprofit Tahoe Fund is dividing $50,000 between three entities – Van Sickle Bi-state Park, Lakeside Bicycle Traill, and publication of the State of the Lake Report.

This initial round of funding by the nonprofit that was created to infuse cash into the Lake Tahoe Basin for environmental improvement projects was announced Monday night at a dinner at the West Shore Cafe in Homewood.

Funding will go to:

• $25,000 to support operations of the new Van Sickle Bi-State Park at the South Shore

• $20,000 for a portion of the Class 1 Lakeside Bicycle Trail at Tahoe City

• $5,000 to fund publication of the annual UC Davis State of the Lake Report.

The dinner also highlighted two major Founders Circle donations.

• Heavenly Mountain Resorts and Northstar-At Tahoe through Vail Resorts Echo, the Vail Resorts stewardship program, will provide approximately $75,000 a year through a guest donation program.

• The Robert S. & Dorothy J. Keyser Foundation of Nevada will donate $25,000 a year for four years to support Tahoe Fund operations.

The Tahoe Fund also announced that the Blum Family Foundation donated $50,000 to jumpstart the fund. Dick Blum and his wife, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., expressed early support for the Tahoe Fund concept of a public-private partnership to implement projects.