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On December 17, 2023, nine Tahoe Truckee community members were honored for their dedication, fearlessness and imagination in work, craft, art and sports. This was the inaugural class of the Jeff Hamilton Legacy Fund Juniper Award. The fund recognizes community members across his six categories: art, music/writing, community impact, trades, medicine, and the Winter Olympics.
During the final months of his life, Truckee local Jeff Hamilton worked with his family and the Tahoe-Truckee Community Foundation to create a charitable foundation that will allow him to continue giving after he passes away. Established the Jeff Hamilton Legacy Fund. “This is a truly unique moment for the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. This is a revolution in the way we think about philanthropy. He was a visionary,” said Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Recognition. said Stacey Caldwell, director of fundraising.
The gathering brought together Legacy Fund donors, donors and their families, the selection committee, and the Hamilton family at Sierra Sotheby’s offices in Brockway, coming together as one family. Taiyo was lucky enough to become part of that family one night.
Jeff Hamilton, of Truckee, passed away from pancreatic cancer on January 10, 2023, surrounded by his family. Born in 1966, he won the bronze medal at the Olympics in 1992, set the world record for speed skiing at 150 mph, and held the world record from 1995 to 1997, winning the world championship four times. He won the title and was recognized worldwide as the fastest skier.
In a pre-event conversation, Jeff’s wife Carolyn said that Jeff’s influence on her influenced the way she thinks about grief, and that she is not “going through” grief, but instead He said it was “in”. Jeff was a hardworking and dedicated man who brought energy and play to Carolyn, Mom and Dad, Mary Ann and Dick, his sister Mary Beth, and his daughters Eleanor and Frances. “He loved playing in the world,” Carolyn said. Jeff’s insatiable curiosity led to a variety of interests and kept him open-minded even in the face of pancreatic cancer. “Jeff never thought of cancer as a fight, a war, a battle. He thought of it as a competition,” Carolyn said.
On November 22, 2023, the first recipients of the Jeff Hamilton Foundation Juniper Prize were announced. Overall he received 126 nominations and the winners received cash without any conditions.
“Jeff wanted to honor individuals because he believed that individuals were the backbone that made communities strong. And he believed that with a prize money, recipients would feel lighter as they embarked on a bold path. Carolyn continued, “The Legacy Fund is a gift to our community and to me. As I put Jeff’s vision into practice, I thought about Jeff, talked about Jeff, and grew close to Jeff. , it brings you closer to your community.”
Get to know your recipients. Art award-winning artist and illustrator Sarah Mohagen draws inspiration from the wilderness, mountains, and wildlife that surround her cabin in the woods. She exhibits vibrant graphite black and white wildlife illustrations as well as vibrant watercolor and acrylic paintings through her art brand Dark Fox Creative. Art was and still is an important part of her life, and she was able to discover her joy even in the midst of being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She has now reached 4 years of remission.
Music award winner Elia Schreiber is a performer, independent folk singer-songwriter, and current student at Berklee College of Music. Her musical journey began with the fiddle when she was five years old. From an early age, music resonated with her more than her studies. By the time she was 10 years old, she had added guitar to her repertoire and immersed herself in singing. Her love of music grew as she performed and she witnessed firsthand the power of her music to bring smiles to people’s faces. On May 26, 2023, she released her “In My Pocket”. This EP of hers allowed her to use music as a means of healing, creating a personal soundtrack for heartbreak, painful realizations, and lost loved ones.
Community Impact Award recipient Kathlie Martin is a public health and behavioral health nurse in Nevada County.
“I was very surprised to hear about this award because for many years I thought I was flying under the radar,” Martin said. Having dedicated his 35 years to serving high-risk populations in the Tahoe-Truckee region, Martin’s passion is to advance local health care and remove barriers to care. She believes in the power of her creativity. “If she thinks in new and creative ways, she can bring something new to an old system,” Martin says.
Trades Award winner Joshua Mendoza is a local student at Diesel Technology. During his formative years, he was immersed in the world of mechanics thanks to his close circle of family and friends. Because of this, he made it his mission to become a mechanic. He is a Mechanic and Diesel Mechanic at Meadows Community College in Truckee and is looking forward to learning and expanding his wheelhouse around the world while learning more about the field of mechanics.
“This award has made my job a lot less stressful, allowing me to study and concentrate more in class,” Mendoza said.
Medical Care Award recipient Julie Morgan is an experienced ER nurse at Tahoe Forest Hospital. She specializes in pediatric emergency medicine and advocates for trauma awareness, especially in the pediatric population. “When she found out she had been chosen for this award, she was really emotional,” Morgan said. Like the other award winners, she had no idea she was nominated.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who wanted to support all eligible athletes for the Winter Olympics, there were four Winter Olympics award winners in the first year. Three of the four athletes were away, so only one was able to attend the awards ceremony.
The first is Cody LaPlante, a slopestyle athlete from the Stifle US freeski team.
“Skiing has taught me so many important lessons and given me endless opportunities. This sport makes me a better person, athlete, competitor, and skier.” LaPlante continues. “Most importantly, my love for skiing has given me the freedom to shape myself, and I will always be grateful for that.”
Then there’s HydroFlask US Snowboard Team, slopestyle athlete Hannah Norman. For as long as she can remember, mountains have served as a refuge from the chaotic world around her. Her encounter with snowboarding aroused in her a love and passion that felt natural and natural. Looking to the future, hopes are high that he will be able to compete in and perhaps win events such as the Olympics, XGames, and Laax Open. “The list of reasons why I love snowboarding is endless, from the little things like riding chairlifts with friends or wearing fresh corduroys on a Bluebird morning, to the life lessons and opportunities snowboarding has given me. ,” Norman said.
Next up is Stifle US Alpine Ski Team athlete Bryce Bennett. Bennett is fresh off his second straight podium at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Val Gardena, Italy. The feat came just two days after Bennett won his first World Cup. With the retirements of Nyman and Travis Gannon, Bennett becomes the only active American athlete with multiple World Cup downhill podiums in a single season. “This award encompasses all aspects of our community, and it means a lot to be a part of it, and I am truly grateful,” Bennett said.
And finally, there’s JC Schoonmaker, an athlete on the Stifle US cross-country ski team. He has wanted to compete in the Olympics since he was 5 years old. Now he’s playing in the World Cup. He just earned his first career World Cup podium by placing third in the sprint at the Cross Country World Cup in Ostersund, Sweden. What’s more, he also has a Swedish girlfriend.
“I love the people I get to ski with and be on the team with. They make skiing fun for me every day and I’m grateful to be part of a group bigger than myself.” continued Schoonmaker. Contribute to making the U.S. ski world number one in the world. ”
The 2024 Juniper Awards nomination cycle begins in June. For more information about the fund, please visit JeffHamiltonLegacyFund.com.
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