Hands4Hope launches South Lake Tahoe expansion with a youth outreach program

by n Victoria Mastrocola Follown vmastrocola@swiftcom.comn | May 20, 2026 | Uncategorized

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Now in its 18th year, Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference (Hands4Hope), a youth-led, service-learning nonprofit, is launching its first outreach program in South Lake Tahoe. The initiative to expand into Lake Tahoe is being funded by the Pay It Forward Project and local community partners, and will be collaborating with middle school and high school students in South Lake Tahoe to create and implement service projects that support the needs of nonprofits serving those struggling most in the community. 

Hands4Hope was first established in 2008 when Jennifer Bassett, Founder and Executive Director of Hands4Hope, wanted to create service-learning opportunities for her two young sons.  

“I was trying to find an interesting way to show them what they could accomplish, and how they could bring smiles to people’s faces, whether it was just by a small act of kindness, saying something nice, or doing a big outreach project,” said Bassett. “Then it evolved from there.”

Today, Hands4Hope is a thriving, youth-driven El Dorado County nonprofit, with impactful community projects spread across the west slope, from El Dorado Hills to Placerville. 

In their most recent annual report, Hands4Hope has served 14,609 people, served or delivered 9,289 meals, and implemented 351 outreaches and projects in the 2024-25 year. 35,565 items were collected in youth-led drives, and 1,114 pounds of food were collected and distributed. Notably, 702 kindergarten through 12th grade students in need during the 2024-2025 year received $43,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies.

Through their Education Program, the organization’s staff mentors facilitate 11 middle school and high school clubs on 10 campuses from El Dorado Hills to Placerville. Additionally, six after-school committees come together at Hands4Hope youth centers to work on specific projects. Across the board, their key service-learning process is: investigate, plan, action, demonstrate, and peer leadership. 

For their Outreach Program, Hands4Hope works with over 40 nonprofit partners on the west slope to fulfill their mission while youth are given opportunities for service. 

Their expansion into South Lake Tahoe marks an exciting chapter for not only the community, but for students at South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School to develop vital skills such as project management, leadership, compassion, and philanthropy. 

Kathy Haven is Director of Grants, Programs, and Impact at El Dorado Community Foundation, and while reviewing scholarship applications, she noticed a pattern with students on the west slope of El Dorado County; There were seniors who were extremely organized in their scholarship applications with their volunteer service and leadership, even accumulating more hours than other students elsewhere. 

“I thought, ‘Why do these kids have so many more opportunities?’ and I realized after a year or two, that they were all Hands4Hope members,” said Haven. 

Haven eventually connected Bassett with John McDougall, founder of the Pay It Forward Project, an organization focused on community volunteerism in Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Douglas County. McDougall was interested in exploring more volunteer services for youth when he was introduced to Bassett.

After visiting an event led by Hands4Hope in Placerville, McDougall was amazed, and decided that the Lake Tahoe community and its youth members could really benefit from an organization like Hands4Hope.

“We were just blown away with how well those students did, how they ran this particular event, their leadership skills and how they put everything together,” said McDougall. “We’re really excited to see this organization get out and assist with nonprofits and help people in need in the community. We think it’s going to be a great addition.”

The month of May kicks off Hands4Hope’s Outreach Program in South Lake Tahoe, and some of the organizations Hands4Hope will be working with this summer include Bread and Broth, Vista Rise Collective, and Marcella Foundation. 

Adult volunteers are also being actively recruited as the Outreach Program launches. These volunteers are asked to attend the outreach and work with Hands4Hope youth to help guide and support them during service events and opportunities. Adults can decide their involvement based on their interests and availability. Opportunities to take on a more active position as an Adult Lead are also available for those interested in a consistent mentorship role.

Interested adults can attend an information session, held online, to learn more about how to get involved. Upcoming information sessions will be held Tuesday, May 26 from 12 p.m. to 12:40 p.m., and Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. Register by going to https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/slt. 

In the coming summer months, youth leaders will begin their summer leadership training and starting in August, Hands4Hope service-learning clubs will launch at South Tahoe Middle School and High School, giving students a chance to participate in designing, funding and implementing service projects.

David Galicia-Perez, 17, is a junior at South Tahoe High School and is involved in Viking Ambassadors, a Career Technical Education initiative launched in 2025. Through the initiative, he heard about Hands4Hope. He is now on the organization’s South Tahoe Steering Committee, along with Haven and McDougall.

“I think South Lake Tahoe is going to greatly benefit from [Hands4Hope],” said Galicia-Perez. “I know this from experience – as an underclassman, finding volunteer opportunities can feel a bit out of reach, a bit hard. Hands4Hope will be able to provide those for anyone and everyone.”

Galicia-Perez, along with his fellow students now have the opportunity to experience hands-on activities that enhance human connection and help fill community needs. 

“I’m most excited about creating opportunities for South Lake Tahoe youth to not only volunteer, but to discover their voice, leadership potential, and sense of purpose through serving others,” said Bassett. “Hands4Hope is about empowering young people to become active changemakers in their community, and I think the Tahoe community is an incredible place for that kind of collaboration and growth.”

To learn more about Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference, visit hands4hopeyouth.org. 

Information on the Pay It Forward Project can be found by going to payitforwardproject.net.

Incline girls chess team wins overall Nevada State Girls Scholastic Chess Championship for third consecutive year

by n Victoria Mastrocola Follown vmastrocola@swiftcom.comn | May 19, 2026 | Uncategorized

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – A team of four homeschooled girls are celebrating a historic, third-consecutive win after competing in this year’s Nevada State Girls Scholastic Chess Championship. 

The girls competed against all Nevada schools in kindergarten through 12th grade, both public and private, before taking home the trophy– a remarkable feat for team members Kora Ostertag, 12, Acadia Holve, 14, her sister, Alora Holve, 12, and Allisyn Flower, 12.

Eric Ostertag, father of Kora Ostertag, not only coaches all four girls but also serves on the board of the Silver State Chess Association. He is responsible for leading the reorganization of the championship’s qualifier format.

Previously, all games and scholastic tournaments were held in Las Vegas, so if a child from Northern Nevada wanted to go, they’d have to pay for costs to travel down, find hotel accommodations, etc., thus diminishing participation for Northern Nevada residents. Ostertag helped reorganize the qualifiers so that the Northern part of the state and the Southern part of the state can both compete in over-the-board tournaments locally, making it more accessible for participation.

Alongside Ostertag is Annastasia Wyzywany, who has coached three of the girls over the course of several years. Through both coaches’ leadership and guidance, the girls have developed into strong competitors.

Flower, the team’s newest addition, worked closely with Wyzywany to learn more about scholastic chess and its fundamental principles.

“It helped me learn actual tactics because before, I didn’t really use any tactics – at least that I know the name of,” said Flower. “It also helped me get endgame tactics so that I could win more.” 

And win they did. First competing in the Northern Nevada Girls Scholastic Chess Championship, a qualifier for the overall Nevada State Championship, Kora Ostertag won the Individual Northern Nevada Girls Championship while team members, Acadia Holve took second and her sister, Alora, took third. 

Their wins sent them to the Nevada State Girls Scholastic Chess Championship, where both individually and as a team, they secured championship titles. 

“Chess is often a solitary sport, so when you can win with a team, it’s something that feels entirely different,” said Acadia Holve. “I really love the competitive nature of the sport, and it feels really good when you can finally get that win, when you put in the time and you’re able to come out feeling really good at the end.”

Alora Holve said her favorite thing about chess, aside from the competitiveness, is the team aspect. “It means you’re not just playing for yourself. If you let yourself down, you’re letting your whole team down. It gives you more motivation, which I actually really appreciate.”

Kora Ostertag, winner of this year’s Individual State Championship, said her preparation for this tournament was harder than anything she’d done in the past due to the fact that she went up a division. Previously, Kora played in the K5 tournament against players between kindergarten and fifth grade. This year, she played against kids who ranged from kindergarten to 12th grade.

“There were harder players this time, because they’re just older and have more experience,” said Kora, who despite competing against those experienced players, still won. 

“The girls have had tremendous success both as a team and as individuals,” said Ostertag. “Alora had an incredibly good tournament this year, winning the K12 challenger section in the open tournament against boys and girls together, which is the same section Acadia won individually last year.” 

With competitions sometimes lasting for hours at a time, the girls have let out a sigh of relief after relishing in the pay off of their hard work, and while their days are made up of school work and chess practice, they find time to focus on other things they enjoy. For Kora, it’s riding her horses, Allisyn enjoys making art, Acadia is working on a new podcast she started, and her and her sister Alora enjoy playing piano.

Although they still harbor goals to enhance their skills for future tournaments, spirits are high for the four girls as they add another trophy to their shelf. 

“We’re still learning, and our opponents just keep getting better,” said Alora. “That’s almost as good as winning, knowing that you’ve improved, but so have your opponents which means you can improve next time as well.”

To learn more about the Silver State Chess Association, visit https://silverstatechess.org.