The Beauty of Living in Lake Tahoe
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On September 28, the Stio 5 Point Film Festival, hosted by AleWorX, raised an impressive $13,000 to benefit The Smaine Fund.
The 5 Point Film Festival is dedicated to promoting adventure and overcoming adversity through film, storytelling and fundraising for local nonprofits. The film festival also aims to foster community engagement to inspire exploration, conservation and sustainable change to keep our natural world accessible for generations to come.
Photo: The Smaine Fund aims to keep the legacy of Kyle Smaine (pictured above) alive by fundraising and giving opportunities to young athletes.
Fundraising is a huge component of the 5 Point Film Festival, and AleWorX hosted this event to raise awareness and funds for The Smaine Fund, a local nonprofit that provides support and financial assistance to up-and-coming outdoor adventure athletes in sports such as skiing, snowboarding, cycling, trail running, skateboarding and various water sports.
The Smaine Fund was created and named after local legend Kyle Smaine, a professional freestyle skier and gold medalist who tragically passed away in 2023 after getting caught in an avalanche while skiing in Japan. The Smaine Fund aims to keep Kyle’s adventurous spirit and legacy alive by giving opportunities to athletes who want to pursue their wildest dreams, just like he did.
From left to right: Tress & Emma Genasci, Jenn Eddy, Jason Williams, Luca Genasci, RJ Vargas, Jenna Smaine, Brian Walker. Credit: AleWorX.
The 5 Point Film Festival was the perfect way to inspire adventure and keep Kyle’s legacy alive, and this particular event at AleworX at the Y was extremely successful in doing just that. Owner Luca Genasci shared that they were able to raise funds in multiple ways: “AleWorX donated a portion of proceeds from the evening, and the community rallied to donate some awesome raffle prizes for the event. We also sold Smaine Fund/AleWorX 4-packs where AleWorX is donating $1 per can purchased in an ongoing fundraising initiative back to The Smaine Fund.”
The Special Edition Smaine Fund beer is currently available at AleWorX. Credit: AleWorX.
The Special Edition Smaine Fund/AleWorX beer is now available for purchase at AleWorX, and Luca is “encouraging folks to swing by and purchase a 4-pack to support our ongoing fundraising initiative.”
To continue raising awareness and funds, Luca and AleWorX “would also love to see other restaurants, bars and liquor and grocery stores consider purchasing and selling The Smaine Fund beer.”
Click here for AleWorX locations, menu and more information.
Click here to learn more about The Smaine Fund.
Mark Your Calendar: Mountainfilm on Tour Lake Tahoe Film Festival
Saturday, November 2
The 6th Annual Mountainfilm on Tour Lake Tahoe will happen at Olympic Village in Palisades on Saturday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m. You don't want to miss this evening filled with films and stories of local adventure enthusiasts and their inspiring adrenaline-fueled expeditions. A giveaway will benefit the Truckee Roundhouse, a local nonprofit dedicated to the education and practice of arts, crafts and technology. Find more information here.
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
