The Ironman Foundation Community Fund will give $50,000 in grants to initiatives and groups in the Lake Tahoe community.

The Ironman Foundation will donate funds to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Department toward the purchase of an off-road all terrain rescue vehicle and money to the Squaw Valley Fire Department to purchase additional rescue equipment. Grant funds will also be dispersed to numerous nonprofit groups including, KidZone Museum, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association, Awaken INC, and Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue.

This also marks the inaugural year for the Ironman Foundation Newton Running Triathlon Team. The goal of the team is to have athletes share the concept of “service through sport and commitment to community.” Twelve of the 44 members will be representing the team in Lake Tahoe and have identified Keep Tahoe Blue as a beneficiary of their team. These team members will be participating in a community service project today in Lake Tahoe to help with lake shore clean up. Additionally, the foundation team will support Keep Tahoe Blue with a donation of $16,000.

The inaugural Ironman Lake Tahoe is Sept. 22.