How California 89 Supports the Tahoe Fund and Mountain Area Preservation
A brand should give back to the place that made it. That is not a nice idea. It is a real rule we live by. California 89 is tied to Tahoe, Truckee, and the whole Sierra. So a part of...
A brand should give back to the place that made it. That is not a nice idea. It is a real rule we live by. California 89 is tied to Tahoe, Truckee, and the whole Sierra. So a part of every thing we do goes back to the local groups that protect this place. Two of our biggest partners are the Tahoe Fund and Mountain Area Preservation. This is a small story about why we support them and what they do for the basin.
Why should a brand give back?
Three reasons. First, the place and the people we love need real help. A healthy lake. Clean trails. Strong small towns. None of that runs on its own. Real groups do the work and they need real support. Second, a brand that only takes from a place is not a real local brand. Giving back is part of the deal. Third, it feels good. When you see a clean trail or a blue lake and know you helped keep it that way, the joy hits different.
A real local brand gives back as much as it takes. That is the only way to last in a place you love.
Who are the Tahoe Fund?
The Tahoe Fund is a real local group. They raise money for Lake Tahoe. Their work covers a lot. Trails. Lake health. Forest care. They match gifts with big grants. So every dollar goes far.
A few of their focus areas: - Keeping Lake Tahoe blue and clean - Building and maintaining trails - Protecting forests from wildfire - Supporting wildlife - Educating visitors and locals - Backing smart transit and trail connection projects
The Tahoe Fund team has deep local roots. They work with scientists. They work with trail crews. They work with local groups. They make Tahoe better each year.
Who are Mountain Area Preservation?
Mountain Area Preservation is a local non profit. They fight to protect Truckee and North Tahoe. They focus on land. On water. On wild life. On real community plans.
A few of their real wins: - Stopping bad development projects - Protecting open space - Fighting for clean water - Educating the public on local planning - Running real community events
The MAP team is full of long time locals. They love the basin. They work hard. Their work shapes the place we all love.
How does California 89 support them?
Three main ways.
- A cut of each sale. A small part of every sale goes back. Every tee helps. Every hoodie helps. Every hat helps. It all adds up each year.
- Direct gifts. We give each year on top of the sale cut. It comes from brand profits. It is in our budget. Not a nice to have.
- Events and awareness. We host events at the CA89 Yard. We raise money. We share their work on social. We spread the word.
Small steady support over years adds up. That is the real goal.
Why these two groups in particular?
Because they do real work right here. The Tahoe Fund helps the lake. MAP helps the land. Together they cover the two things that make this place real. The water. The mountains.
Both groups are local. Both are small enough that every dollar matters. Both have real results we can see with our own eyes.
What real projects have they done?
A few real wins over the years.
Tahoe Fund: - Paid for trail work across the basin - Helped lake clarity work at UC Davis - Paid for fire prevention work - Backed new public transit - Helped real local wild life care
Mountain Area Preservation: - Stopped plans that would hurt open space - Fought for clean water rules - Taught the public about local plans - Saved key wild life areas - Worked on fire safety rules
Both groups have stacks of real wins. Google them. Read the stories. You will be blown away.
How can I support them too?
A few real moves.
- Shop California 89. A cut of every sale goes back. So every tee helps.
- Give direct. Visit the Tahoe Fund site or the MAP site and give.
- Help out. Both groups run real work days. Pack bags. Plant trees. Clean trails. Real hands on work.
- Follow on social. Share their posts. Spread the word. Free help.
- Tell a friend. Word of mouth still works. It is one of the best ways to help a small group grow.
Even a small action helps. No one is too small to make a difference.
What does the lake mean to us?
Lake Tahoe is the soul of California 89. The whole brand started because we love this lake and this region. Our best selling line is the Love Blue Collection, built around the deep blue of the lake. That blue is a sign of a healthy lake. When the blue fades, it means trouble. So keeping the lake clean is not just a feel good move. It is the whole point.
Every tee we sell has a small promise. We give back to the lake. Each year. No matter what.
What do the mountains mean to us?
The mountains are the other half of the story. The Into the Woods Collection is built around the Sierra forests. Real pines. Real trails. Real wild life. All of it needs care.
The mountains give us a place to hike. To ski. To bike. To breathe. They give us air. They give us water. They give us views. So we give back to them too.
What about the Destination Collection?
The Destination Collection names real Sierra spots. Truckee. Donner. Tahoe. Mount Rose. Each piece is a love note. Each piece says these spots are worth saving.
When you wear a Destination tee, you wear a real Sierra spot. You also help keep it alive. Small loop.
How do I know my shopping actually helps?
Fair question. A few ways we stay honest.
We post our gifts each year in real numbers
Both groups are on our About Us page
We share photos from real events
We post updates on social when new work ships
You can check in with each group direct
No hand waving. No vague talk. Real numbers. Real work. Real wins.
Why does this matter for Tahoe’s future?
Tahoe is under real stress. Climate shifts. Fire risk. Too much new build out. Big crowds. Water worries. The basin needs real care. For the next kid who visits.
Small local groups are on the front lines. Groups like the Tahoe Fund and MAP. They see the risks first. They build the fixes. They need long term help to keep going.
Every dollar helps. Every voice helps. Every small action helps.
What can I do on my next Tahoe trip?
A few easy moves to give back while you visit.
Pack out your trash (always)
Stay on trails
Skip the single use plastic
Respect fire rules
Drive slow and watch for wild life
Tip local workers well
Buy from local brands
Donate a small amount to a local cause
Tell a friend about the groups doing the work
Small actions stack up.
What about a CA89 event for Tahoe Fund or MAP?
We host a few each year at the CA89 Yard. Small fund raisers. Awareness events. Community gatherings. Watch our social and the Truckee Visitor Center site for live event dates.
A small community event on a summer night is a real way to show up for the place you love.
What about other local groups we support?
On top of the Tahoe Fund and MAP, we also back a few smaller local causes each year. Local trail crews. Local school events. Local art shows. Local fund raisers for folks in need. Most of these are small gifts that fly under the radar. But they matter.
Small steady love for a small town is how we keep it real. We do not brag. We just show up.
How can a visitor help?
Visitors have a bigger impact than they think. A few easy moves:
Skip the single use plastic
Bring a real water bottle
Tip local workers well
Buy from local brands
Give a small gift to a local cause
Share what you love on social
Tell a friend about the place
A visitor who cares helps almost as much as a local who cares. Maybe more. Because you bring fresh energy each time you come up.
Tie it all back
For more on the groups we back, visit the Tahoe Fund and Mountain Area Preservation sites direct. Both have tons of real info.
For more on our brand, the California 89 About Us page has the full story. The home page has the full line.
If you want to support the lake and wear the love, the Love Blue Collection is the easy start. The Into the Woods Collection is a close second for forest lovers.
For real lake health news, the UC Davis Tahoe Research Center is the top free source.
A small note from our team
We love this place more than we can say. The lake. The trees. The town. The trails. The people. All of it. We are proud to live here. So we give back what we can. Year by year. Tee by tee.
Thank you for being part of the story. When you buy a piece, you help us give back. That means more than any sales number.
Love the place. Protect the place. Pass it on.
See you on the lake.