The Greater Lake Almanor Basin is on the Verge of Big Changes!  

What is the purpose of the Foundation?

• The purpose is to be the catalyst that inspires ideas, sparks action and connects members of the community with funding and resources for growth, and an equitable, healthy, and rewarding quality of life for the greater community. 
• The Foundation will actively seek, support and create opportunities in order to fulfill this mission and vision.

 

How and who will benefit from the Foundation?

• Community Service Organizations will be served with administrative assistance, volunteer pools and 501c3 status for fund raising.
• Families, youth and local organizations will be assisted through grants and philanthropic projects.
• Community Philanthropists will have a vehicle for charitable donations
  • Community members desiring to share their time, financial support or expertise will have a focused plan for their generosity for the best results.
• Community members with a need to connect with others and/or organizations will have a one-stop resource to help facilitate. 

How is the Foundation organized and who oversees?

• A seven-member board under the direction of a Board Chair will oversee the Foundation to guide and ensure that goals and mission are implemented. An Executive Director that reports to the board, will be hired to implement and manage the Foundation.

 

How are monies raised for the Foundation?

• Fundraising Events and Activities
• Community Giving Campaigns
• Corporate/Family Foundations 
• Grants

 

How can the community support the Foundation?

• The best way to support the foundation is for each of us to regard ourselves as philanthropists, doing what we can, with what we have. It will take the entire community participating, practicing generosity, making a habit of giving, whether it is of our time, money or talents.

It is our collective talents, experience, resources and passion that will hold, care for, and sustain our community’s well-being.

 

Below is a brief overview of just some of the projects that the new Foundation will “house.”

1. The Town Plaza

A plan, design and fund has been started to build a Town Plaza as a focal point and gathering area for the community. The Plaza will be a destination that can feature farmer’s markets, events, music, festivals, craft shows, children’s activities, an ice rink, cultural performances, and area information that will begin to establish our area as viable year-round.

 

1. World Class Sled Hill at Stover Mountain

The community is ready to begin conversations with the Forest Service to gain permission to build a sled hill and facilities at Stover Mountain. This is a much-needed winter activity for our families and will draw visitors to our area during the winter months.

 

1. Protecting Lake Almanor 

We must stay active and vigilant to protect our most important asset. There are continuing threats to our water quality coming from a decrease in annual snow packs, and the degradation of streams to the encroachment of other interests on the cold waters of the lake. Protecting the quality of our lake waters, streams and fisheries will mean raising and granting funds to organizations such as Lake Almanor Watershed Group and the Almanor Fishing Association’s fish hatchery program, among others.

 

1. Beautification of Chester’s Main Street

In 2009, our community, came together to create a Main Street Design plan as part of the needed improvements and beautification of Chester.  It encompassed sidewalks and bike lanes and many other street improvements.  The plan was to await funding and the next round of improvements that would come with Cal Trans highway improvements through town. The time has come to move forward. Modifications to the plan are needed, as well as funding to meet our part of the improvement process.  

 

1. The Almanor Basin Community Consortium

The Almanor Basin Community Consortium was formed in 2019.  The Consortium and its sector meetings are to become platforms for the mixing and sharing of ideas, visions and projects of the different organizations, businesses, and peoples of the Lake Almanor Basin to produce a vision for our future, enhance our quality of life, and work toward creative solutions to our current and future challenges 

 

1. The Mountain Volunteer Project (MVP)

The first Consortium meeting revealed that there are many ways in which community nonprofit and service groups can work better together to serve the needs of the people that live, work, and play in the greater Lake Almanor Area. One specifically is a hub, or one-stop shop for volunteers and volunteer services to assist our service sector, fill the need for people to connect, and foster a positive culture of volunteerism and service. MVP was kicked off in the spring of 2020 in answer to community needs at the onset of COVID-19.