by Erin Casey, Green Bucks Program Manager
Local Businesses Are Taking Care of Their Own Backyard!
Area businesses have joined with the Truckee River Watershed Council and the Tahoe Fund to help launch the new Green Bucks program. Green Bucks is a dollar donation program designed to harness the passion of visitors and residents in order to help care for the region’s extraordinary environment. Businesses including Squaw Valley, Alpine, the Resort at Squaw Creek, PlumpJack, Truckee Properties and Tahoe Mountain Properties have committed to collecting dollar donations on room nights, season passes, lift tickets, golf rounds and other items to help improve the area’s natural environment.
Proceeds from Green Bucks support the Tahoe Fund, the Truckee River Watershed Council and other public and nonprofit organizations in the region. These organizations fund projects that will improve, enhance and restore watersheds, hiking and biking trails, and environmental stewardship programs.
“The organizations receiving the proceeds from the Green Bucks program are outstanding and impactful organizations, and the funds from this program will go directly to help preserve and restore the rivers, lakes and meadows in the region,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “It’s our hope that our company’s broad participation compels and induces other companies in the region to support the Tahoe Fund and the Truckee River Watershed Council through this new program.”
Green Bucks is a win-win for residents and visitors by creating a simple way for those who love the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area to help make it even better. With the support of visitors, residents and local business, Green Bucks will help raise money to restore and improve the environment and enhance recreational opportunities, ultimately helping to drive even more tourism and business to the local economy. Participation in the Green Bucks program also provides a unique opportunity for local businesses to establish themselves as leaders in environmental stewardship AND share their efforts with guests, employees and the surrounding community. As a participant businesses will receive the following:
- Feature in public relations campaign and website
- Promotional materials to share with guests
- Staff training on the program
- Invitation to our Green Bucks Annual Meeting
- Reports on Green Bucks program outcomes
Similar “buck” programs are operating in places like Jackson Hole, Yosemite and regions like our own with exciting results. These programs have raised millions of dollars to support local initiatives. Click here for more information. Local businesses can call Erin Casey, Green Bucks Program Manager at (530) 550-8760 ext. 7 for more information or to sign up to participate in the Green Bucks program.