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Contact Information:
(530) 264-5064
Admin@TheAlmanorFoundation.org
278 Main Street Chester, Suite C, Chester, CA
Our Story
A foundation because stuff happens. In the early morning of November 8, 2018, the first plume of the deadliest wildfire in California history was seen over the west shores of Lake Almanor. Over the next 48 hours and the weeks that followed 100’s of evacuees sought refuge here. The people of the Lake Almanor Basin stepped up to assist with raising over $35,000, establishing an evacuation center, a system for vetting needs and distributing funds. We were caught flat-footed but were glad we were able to serve.
The next disaster came COVID-19 in 2021 and once again, without resources or funds and few volunteers, the community went to work quickly creating a needs assessment, a 24-hour help line and a shopping service for those most vulnerable. It was evident that our community needed to put resources and systems in place because stuff happens. Taking Action In October of 2020 a small group gathered to discuss creating a foundation to provide the resources for the community to address challenges and lay plans for the future.
This became the Steering Committee for the foundation and with needs, feasibility and goals confirmed, a mission was defined, bylaws adopted, and Articles of Incorporation for The Almanor Foundation were filed December 2020. In March 2021, the North Valley Community Foundation of Butte County, accepted The Almanor Foundation as a Fund within their organization to allow us to receive donations and contributions while awaiting the approval of our 501c3 charitable status. In February of 2022 The Almanor Foundation received 501c3 status and continues to partner with NVCF on common goals.
Mission
The Almanor Foundation creates opportunities for community development as stewards of initiatives and projects that unify individuals, groups and organizations who have a common goal to create a better, more sustainable and rewarding quality of life for those who reside in the Greater Lake Almanor Basin. The Foundation inspires ideas, takes action and creates funding opportunities through hosting events and applying for grants to ensure our vision and mission are realized.
Objectives
- Focus in the near term on the Greater Lake Almanor Basin, which includes Canyon Dam, Greenville, Westwood, Clear Creek and Indian Valley.
- Serve families and youth in our geographic community through grants to organizations.
- Meet specific community needs through philanthropic projects.
- Receive funds from philanthropist focused on general community needs and specific community improvement projects.
- Address community challenges, even disasters, through collaboration with individuals and organizations.
- Identify, with others, new ideas and efforts that spur our communities into prosperity and responsible growth
Our Initiatives
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.
The Town Plaza
The Town Plaza is an initiative for the advancement of community health, education, and cultural and recreational opportunities. The Town Plaza will be a community destination that will feature educational events, music, festivals, craft fairs, children’s activities, cultural performances, and public art. As an economic development driver, it will contain a public market space that will create opportunities for various food and retail entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. As an event and year-round activities location it will become a regional destination that will bring residents as well as travelers into the Town of Chester, stimulating the economy of the town.
Workforce Housing
The shortage of housing and shortage of affordable housing is threatening the livelihood and character of our region, our community members, and our businesses. The goal of The Almanor Foundation is to bring people together to accelerate solutions to achievable local housing, supporting short-term and immediate action, while focusing on long-term solutions. In August 2022 the foundation funded a 6-month project to produce a comprehensive and systematic approach to affordable housing within the Lake Almanor Basin. The path forward will look at each of the stakeholders in the process and evaluate where and when each can affect change toward a shared vision of increasing the affordable housing stock. This process will look to create an educational road map to understand the process of housing from financing to occupancy that reveals the interdependencies of each industry and stakeholder. Our goal through this process is to map the ecosystem that is housing and highlight where change can be made via influence or control of each of the stakeholders.
Wildfire Relief & Recovery
Our Wildfire Fund supports rebuilding and revitalization of communities impacted by wildfire. Tragically, the wildfires have become more dangerous, happen more frequently and are incredibly destructive in recent years. More specifically, our region has suffered immensely. The impact of these fires has been felt by everyone in our region, and it will take many years of collaborative work for us to rebuild and revitalize homes, health, and wellbeing for all of our neighbors.
Our goal is to work collaboratively with the nonprofit, government, philanthropic and private sectors to accelerate recovery and rebuilding to create a thriving, resilient and even stronger region.
Our Funds
Seneca Health Care District, Back the Build
The future of the Seneca Healthcare District Hospital is at a crossroads. The existing building, now over 69 years old, is nearing its end of life. The aging building does not meet current seismic safety building standards according to Senate Bill 1953. Renovating the existing structure to bring it up to current requirements would cost as much or more than building a new facility.
Carlos Espana Memorial Fund, Almanor Rail Trail Project
The vision of the Trails Committee is to establish a continuous recreation corridor around the lake and east to the Bizz Johnson Trail in Lassen County. The committee has worked with federal, private and commercial landowners to link a system of informal trails around the Lake Almanor Basin that will provide healthy, outdoor recreational opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.
The Almanor Rail Trail is a 12-mile segment of this master plan, beginning in Chester and following the Collins Pine Rail Trail through the Olsen Barn Meadow, across the Causeway, along Lake Almanor and ending at Clear Creek Junction and Highway 147. Donated funds will be dedicated to the completion of this trail and ongoing maintenance.
Defend Lake Almanor Project Fund
The Defend Lake Almanor project fund supports the efforts to defend, preserve and protect the ecology, environment and economy of Lake Almanor from any adverse decisions made on behalf of the relicensing of Project 2105: Upper North Fork Feather River Hydroelectric Project by the Federal Energy Resources Commission (FERC).
Chester Cemetery Rebuild Fund
The Chester Cemetery was burnt over during the Dixie Fire of 2021. The Cemetery District is working to rebuild cemetery with trees and foliage for the families of the community Lake Almanor Area Chamber Fireworks Fund The Chamber hosts two Fireworks Spectacular events each year over the skies of Lake Almanor and Chester. One on the 4th of July off the Lake Almanor Peninsula, the other over Rogers Field (Chester Airport) on New Year’s Eve. This fund allows tax deductible donations to these two important events to the community and visitors to the area.
