Tahoe Truckee Region Local News: Community Service & Support

The Tahoe Chamber announced that nominations are now open for the 2025 Blue Ribbon Awards, the premier recognition program celebrating excellence in the South Shore business community. The Chamber invites businesses, organizations, and individuals to submit nominations for outstanding achievements by businesses that are Chamber member in 8 categories.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. – The Tahoe City Downtown Association has launched its Bring Back the Boom fireworks fundraising campaign to bring Fourth of July fireworks back to Tahoe City in 2025! The community has spoken loud and clear – they prefer fireworks over drones. The fireworks shows are completely funded by donations.

Azul Latin Kitchen, located in the Heavenly Village, recently awarded a check for $13,000 to Bread and Broth. The donation was largely in part from a $1 donation by Azul for every Queso Fundido appetizer sold (fundido appetizer contributions put the "FUN" in fundraising!), as well the annual fundraiser held at the end of November.

If you follow local news, you've likely read stories about Bread & Broth, a ministry of St. Theresa Catholic Church, whose mission is to feed those in need in South Lake Tahoe. This dedicated organization, comprised wholly of volunteers of all faiths and denominations, continues to directly meet the needs of local residents through their programs, which include the service of twice weekly, hot, full-course meals and healthy food giveaway bags, as well as providing nutritious kid-friendly food to children from the ages of 18 months to 18 years.

For many young people in North Tahoe and Truckee, the towering mountains surrounding their hometowns can feel more like barriers than gateways to adventure. High costs, lack of equipment, and limited opportunities often prevent local youth from engaging in the outdoor experiences that define the region. SOS Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to youth development through outdoor-based mentorship, is working to change that dynamic.

The Excellence in Education Foundation was founded on a simple but meaningful mission: to support students, teachers, and schools across the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Every year, through the community's generosity, the foundation raises funds to support innovation in classrooms, inspire students in their academic journeys, and recognize outstanding educators and staff members. Now, it's time to give back. 

The Truckee Rotary Community Foundation is looking for community projects or needs to bestow their annual donations upon. This year, the foundation has up to $15,000 to donate for various projects. The Truckee Rotary Community Foundation provides funds for worthy individuals, organizations, or projects within the greater Truckee community. 

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is no small feat—only about 6% of scouts nationwide achieve it. In Truckee, three local scouts have joined those elite ranks. Michael Dahlen, Brock Ryan, and Dylan Richards recently completed their ambitious service projects, leaving a lasting impact on the community and cementing their status as leaders in the Truckee Scout Troop.

The El Dorado County Community Action Council is seeking to fill two member vacancies with individuals who can represent the interests and concerns of people and families with low incomes living in El Dorado County, with a special focus on housing, nutrition, and low-income program needs. The deadline to submit a member application is April 22.

The Marcella Foundation hosted its 3rd annual BookMode Kindle Giveaway Event at Sierra House Elementary School, where 70 brand-new Kindles were distributed to every 2nd-grade student. This event was part of the Marcella Foundation's ongoing commitment to inspire a love for reading and provide essential resources to young learners, particularly those who may not have books at home.

Empty Bowls Soup Night is back, bringing the community together over handcrafted soups while raising funds for Sierra Community House's hunger relief programs. Set for Wednesday, March 19, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Truckee High School cafeteria, the event features two well-known local chefs serving gourmet soups that defy expectations.

Alpenglow Sports raised an additional $38k for the five nonprofit beneficiaries of the annual Winter Speaker Series, thanks to a generous match from the Tahoe Fund. 

If you are a member of Heavenly's Ski Patrol, serving others is just part of your job responsibilities. On the slopes, ski patrol members are constantly on watch for unsafe skiing conditions, assisting skiers and boarders, and helping make sure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe day on the slopes. Wanting to serve others is second nature for the members of the Heavenly Ski Patrol.

The South Shore community came together in a spirit of generosity and camaraderie at the Connect for a Cause Crab Feed, hosted by Tahoe Chamber and Bruschetta on February 20, 2025. This community event brought over 60 attendees together for an evening of incredible food, meaningful connections, and impactful giving.

Every second Tuesday of 2025, the entrepreneurial spirit of Lake Tahoe comes alive as Tahoe Inc., a cornerstone initiative of the Tahoe Prosperity Center's Prosperity Playbook, brings together innovators, dreamers, and business leaders from both sides of the California-Nevada state line.

Tahoe is soon to have a new generation of philanthropic leaders thanks to the formation of the Teens for Tahoe Giving Circle. High school students with a passion for Lake Tahoe are encouraged to apply for this new program, which is part of the Tahoe Fund's Teens for Tahoe initiative and begins this Spring.