League to Save Lake Tahoe Annual Fashion Show
Est. 1969LEAGUE TO SAVE LAKE TAHOE ANNUAL FASHION SHOW
In the summer of 1969 Bill Blass arrived in Lake Tahoe to an enthusiastic gathering of summer residents. Noticeably barefoot on a plywood runway, he presented his Fall Collection to the event’s first 100 guests on Rubicon Beach.
In 1999, Blass handed the baton to the legendary Oscar de la Renta who continued the tradition of presenting his iconic Collections until he passed in 2014. Oscar de la Renta continues to support the soiree as the featured designer under the leadership of CEO, Alex Bolen and Co-creative Directors Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim.
Since its plywood beginnings, the day has evolved into a masterful runway production presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, our steadfast partner since 1969. This unique partnership, now in its 54th year, has raised over $22 million to support the League’s efforts to preserve Lake Tahoe, a designated Outstanding National Resource Waters under the Clean Water Act and legitimate national treasure.
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Barbara Brown
Read Bio Close BioBarbara Brown's love affair with Lake Tahoe began the first time she saw its beautiful blue water. She was moved to purchase a home on the West Shore which provided unforgettable memories for her three daughters and seven grandchildren. During her years spent at Lake Tahoe, Barbara was a member of the Tahoe Lakefront Homeowners Association and the Tahoe Yacht Club, supporting the annual boat show and activities involving the iconic wooden boats of the Lake.
Barbara is a Founding Member of PARCA in San Mateo County, supporting families with special needs children. She served on the Board for the Institute for Health & Healing and served on the CPMC Women's Board for 30 years. Her love of fashion and the ODLR brand brought her to the Annual Fashion Show, where she has served as a prolific ambassador and fundraiser for the League to Save Lake Tahoe for 17 years.
Heidi Cary
BOB DAMASCHINO
Read Bio Close BioBob Damaschino is a second-generation West Shore property owner. He has worked to guide and direct the League on the restoration and preservation of Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity for the past 25 years. Bob served on the League's Board of Directors from 2007 to 2021, including a seven-year term as board president from 2008 to 2014. Bob knows that science-based preservation solutions, education, and motivating the next generation to take ownership of protective responsibilities is key to the health of the Lake and the Tahoe Basin.
As a founding member of the Forever Blue Council, Bob continues to focus on the League’s development efforts.
Bob also serves on the Board of Las Trampas (School) for adults with developmentaldisabilities in Lafayette.
LINDSAY MCCONON
Read Bio Close BioLindsay is the co-founder and CEO of Freya, a sustainable luxury accessories brand handmade by global artisans. She has spent her career in retail entrepreneurship, in both digital and brick and mortar, specializing in merchandising and operations. Lindsay graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford University, where she played varsity women’s water polo. Other relevant nonprofit experience includes her tenure as the Chair of Board Governance for Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin.
Lindsay lives in Incline Village with her husband and three children, all avid skiers. She joined the board in 2021.
JESSICA HICKINGBOTHAM
Read Bio Close BioJessica Hickingbotham’s love for Lake Tahoe began early. Her grandparents and parents took a place every summer near Camp Richardson. She spent her childhood on the Lake, learning to water ski, taking picnics on the East Shore and sailing. She found the perfect match in her spouse, J., who’s family has a long history at Lake Tahoe. J’s grandmother, Diana Dollar Knowles, was one of the original founders of the League Fashion Show. When Jessica joined the family, J’s grandmother encouraged her to get involved in the League. Jessica has been a part of the fashion show since, working on the committee for 9 years.
Jessica grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduated from UC Davis and spent more than a decade working in marketing and advertising. She currently lives in Menlo Park where she is raising two children with her husband. She is active in Bay Area philanthropy and sits on the Board of Directors for Achieve Tahoe (formerly Disabled Sports USA). She and her family still spend time at Tahoe, skiing at Palisades in the winter and visiting Tahoe as often as possible every summer.
KRISTA GIOVARA
Read Bio Close BioKrista Giovara is a fifth-generation native of Northern California who spent her younger summers in Tahoe and now has a home with her husband, four children and three stepchildren on the West Shore. She has been serving on the host committee of the League to Save Lake Tahoe Oscar de la Renta fashion show for the past seven years. She is also a writer, philanthropist and open-heart surgery survivor.
J. RICCARDO BENAVIDES
Read Bio Close BioJ. Riccardo, a renowned event planner from the Bay Area, founded Ideas Event Styling in 1992 after studying at Rudolph Shaeffer's School of Interior Design in San Francisco. Known for his unconventional and sensational styles, he has collaborated with companies that share his ideals. Riccardo has designed events for notable clients like Queen Sofia of Spain, Giorgio Armani, Facebook, Netflix, and Dropbox. He actively supports non-profit causes, donating design efforts and rentals as well as serving on the committees and boards of various non-profits. In 2023, he became San Francisco's Art Commissioner, aiming to make a lasting impact on the city.
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