Since 1992, Santa’s Magic Ride has worked with South Lake Tahoe schools to identify children in need and provide them with the special holiday gifts they request. These children’s “Dear Santa” letters and wish lists are distributed to gift-buying volunteers who deliver their presents to designated drop off sites. The week before Christmas the gifts are delivered to the children.

Providing children with the special gift they want is what makes Santa’s Magic Ride so unique and so magical. Through its generous supporters Santa’s Magic has been able to deliver gifts to over 500 children in need each year. Dickson Realty appreciates the encouragement of all of it friends and neighbors as they share their joy and love this holiday season and help support Santa’s Magic Ride.

Gifts are for children from kindergarten through 5^th grade; they are to be unwrapped and will be picked up by the Santa’s Magic Ride volunteers by December 14^th in the morning. If you just want to donate money to purchase gifts, Santa’s Magic Ride volunteers will be happy to help.

The “People’s Choice” winner was Rosebud II, a 1953 24 ft. Greavette Streamliner. This beauty is owned by John and Cheryl Cox of Hood, CA and Homewood. The “Kids Choice” winner was Thunderbird, a 1939 55 ft. mahogany and stainless steel cruiser designed by John Hacker and owned by Foundation 36.

The purpose of the boat show was two fold. The Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (an International organization based in New York State) has in its Philanthropy Charter, the mission to educate and give back to the communities in which the Chapter enjoys its antique and classic boats. Secondly, the Chapter is charged with the mission of preserving, restoring, and maintaining antique boats and with that in mind, this was a judged show which helps teach about the beautiful boats that are owned and cared for.

The Antique and Classic Boat Society, Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter is very pleased to have had this show be such a success that they were able to donate $2,500 to each of the following four charities in the South and East Shore Lake Tahoe communities: The Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Heritage Foundation, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department – Company 3, and Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society. At the awards dinner at Riva Grill on Saturday night the Chapter gave $2,500 checks to Karen Houser, Director of the Boys and Girls Club for South Lake Tahoe kids and their families; Scott & Charlotte Brooke, Board members of Tahoe Heritage Foundation, for the restoration effort of Quic ChaKidn, an historic boat being restored in the boat house at the Pope Estate; Kenin Fairley of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department for equipment for their fire boat; and Bill Watson, Curator of the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society to help maintain the home and property of the historic George Whittel estate.

On Sunday, July 20th, the event continued participants gathered outside of Tahoe Keys Marina and followed Thunderbird along the south shore of Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay State Park. The boats were tied side-by-side all along the north side of Vikingsholm and everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch and the views of the beautiful boats.

Without the sponsors, this event could not have occurred. A huge thank you went to Dickson Realty, the Event Sponsor at the $10,000 Captain Level. And without the Tahoe Keys Marina this event could not have happened. The Captain Sponsors were Tahoe Keys Resort, Peter S. Carter Photography, and Foundation 36. Pilot Sponsors were Jack and Marlys Greenhalgh, Paul and Jackie Mehus, Triano Marine Design, Tahoe Powerboat Company, Picchetti Winery, JT and Lindé Ravizé, Community Ink, and KMTN-TV. At the Crew level the sponsors were Dave and Tammi Lyon, Steve and Cheryl Caplan, KRLT & KOWL radio, and Miller’s Outpost. And rounding out the terrific sponsorships at the Deck Hand level were Tom and Marie O’Rourke, Lakeside Inn & Casino, Hagerty Marine Insurance, and Dirk and Jan Reed.

The Antique and Classic Boat Society, Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter looks forward to having another great event next year!