The stars of Achieve Tahoe were out in full force at our 31st Annual Light of Achievement Gala! We enjoyed a beautiful evening celebrating these incredible individuals who embody Achieve Tahoe’s mission of building health, confidence, and independence in people with disabilities through outdoor recreation.
This year’s honorees represent the very best of our community — participants, volunteers, advocates and supporters whose passion and dedication continue to expand access to the outdoors and inspire everyone around them. Their impact reaches far beyond the slopes, trails, and water, helping create a more inclusive and empowering future for all.
Watch their videos below!
Bright Light Award
Honoring an individual whose energy, generosity, and commitment illuminate the Achieve Tahoe community
La Donna Ford grew up a proud Arkansas Razorback, earning her undergraduate degree from the
University of Arkansas before going on to receive her Doctorate in Medicine from UAMS. After a brief chapter serving in the Air Force, she settled in Lodi, where she married her fiancé, began her medical career, and welcomed their beloved son, Connor. After Connor was diagnosed with autism, La Donna moved to the Bay Area seeking better support and opportunities for him. She dedicated herself to learning and connecting with others to help her son thrive. Through these efforts, she discovered Achieve Tahoe. Connor loved his first ski lesson, and they later enjoyed Sierra Summer Sports together. Though Connor is functionally nonverbal, his excitement speaks volumes. He’s learned to say “snow ski,” “waterski,” “tube,” and “jetski”—his way of reminding his mom that he’s already looking forward to his next Achieve Tahoe adventure.
Volunteer Story of Achievement
Inspiring stories of individuals who exemplify Achieve Tahoe’s mission to build health, confidence, and independence in people with disabilities
Karen Witt is originally from Southern California, but family ski trips to Mammoth taught Karen early on that her heart belonged to the mountains. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation, she moved to Winter Park, Colorado for an internship with Hal O’Leary at what was then the largest adaptive ski school in the nation. While there, she completed her Level 3 Adaptive PSIA certification, made lifelong friendships, and consistently competed in (and won) telemark ski races. After four winters in Colorado, Karen missed sunny California and moved to Truckee. She began working for Katherine Hayes Rodriguez and the original adaptive teaching staff of NHSRA, at Alpine Meadows and going on to earn her PSIA Level 3 Nordic Telemark certification and Level 2 Alpine certification. A highlight for her was traveling to many different US states as well as Europe and Asia to train instructors and teach participants to ski. After 40 years, she is proud to have dedicated her career to teaching adaptive skiing alongside the amazing staff at Achieve Tahoe.
Gary Maclean was born in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Phoenix, AZ at the age of 4. He considers Phoenix home, although he later relocated to Oklahoma in his teens. Gary graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in Pharmacy. He originally planned to pursue a nursing degree and a master’s in administration, but after spending time in a hospital, he decided to change direction and study pharmacy instead. After graduating from OSU, Gary visited relatives in Reno and decided to move there in 1980. He worked as a pharmacist in Reno for 40 years before retiring. Gary had never skied before but learned in the early 1990s, starting as a cross-country skier after a life-changing event. His daughters, Dawn and Ariene, preferred Alpine skiing and encouraged him to try it as well. Inspired by his friend, Kathy, who participated in the hand cycling program with Achieve Tahoe (then known as the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School), Gary has been volunteering at Achieve Tahoe since the late 1990’s.
Participant Story of Achievement
Inspiring stories of individuals who exemplify Achieve Tahoe’s mission to build health, confidence, and independence in people with disabilities
Miles Sellai, 15, is a student at BOOST School in San Rafael. He is a San Francisco native and has been skiing with Achieve Tahoe since the age of 5. Miles loves school, music, listening to books, and most of all skiing.
At 14 months old, Miles experienced a hypoxic ischemic event that resulted in spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. After a family ski trip where Miles’ older brother, Jack, enjoyed skiing with his cousins, his mom, Elyse Cobb, began searching for a way Miles could share in the same joy, and experience the mountain alongside his family. Miles had his first lesson at age five, and it marked the beginning of a passion that continues to grow. Miles’ intense love of skiing drew his entire family into the sport. Miles’ dad, Mike Sellai, has been an instructor at Achieve Tahoe for 9 years; his older brother, Jack, 17, just finished his 2nd year coaching with Alpine Rangers, and his younger brother, Reid, 13, skis with Far West Skiing. Miles’ family has found that skiing is the one activity that is truly inclusive for him. He gets to fully participate in a sport that is also a shared love with his siblings. Now, after a decade with Achieve Tahoe, Miles looks forward to ski season all year long and loves every day he gets to spend on the mountain with his family.
Congratulations to our honorees, and thank you to all who attended The 31st Annual Light of Achievement Gala, our gala sponsors, and our Board of Directors for helping us raise over $260,000 for Achieve Tahoe’s adaptive recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities! We look forward to hosting you at next year’s Gala on May 15, 2027.