We have some truly exciting news to share — the kind of news that reminds us why we do this work. The Jerry & Yvonne Kehr Education Fund is turning a new page, and we believe it’s a meaningful chapter in the Kehr legacy of giving back to Plumas County.
The Story Behind the Kehr Fund
If you’ve spent time in the Lake Almanor area, chances are you’ve been touched by the Kehr family in some way. Yvonne Kehr spent years as a beloved third-grade teacher at Chester Elementary, the kind of teacher students remember their whole lives. Jerry Kehr shaped young athletes as a basketball coach and educator, instilled pride in his community as an influential real estate broker who helped build the Lake Almanor West Subdivision, and helped lay the foundation for regional commerce as a founding director of Plumas Bank.
The fund established in their honor was born from a very real community need: Plumas County was facing an aging population, declining school enrollment, and a growing shortage of skilled workers and vocational training opportunities. The Kehr Fund set out to meet those challenges.
That mission matters deeply.
A New Initiative — and a New Opportunity
Here’s where things get exciting. The Almanor Foundation has officially launched its Career & Technical Education (CTE) Innovation & Support Initiative — a dedicated fund and program built specifically to champion workforce readiness and vocational education in Plumas County. The CTE Initiative is now the torchbearer for the mission that the Kehr Fund helped pioneer.
That means the directors of the Kehr Fund have the wonderful opportunity: to redirect the fund’s focus toward something that lives at the heart of who Jerry and Yvonne were.
Think of Jerry on the basketball court — coaching, encouraging, believing in kids. Think of Yvonne in her classroom — nurturing, inspiring, planting seeds of confidence and curiosity. Both of them understood that access to enriching activities isn’t a luxury for young people. It’s essential.
What the Kehr Fund Will Support — Starting in 2026
Effective 2026, the Jerry & Yvonne Kehr Education Fund will focus on expanding access to youth sports, the arts, and music for young people across Plumas County. In our rural communities, these opportunities are often hard to come by — and the Kehr Fund wants to help change that.
The Kehr Fund’s New Focus Areas
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These partnerships go beyond financial support—they build relationships, confidence, and opportunity.
How You Can Be Part of This New Chapter
The Kehr Fund’s new direction is a celebration — of community, of legacy, and of the young people who are the future of Plumas County. We invite you to be part of this story.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter of the Kehr Fund, a fan of TAF’s new CTE Initiative, or simply someone who believes that every child in our mountains deserves a chance to kick a ball, strum a guitar, or stand on a stage — there is a place for you in this work.
▶ Donate to the Kehr Education Fund
Make a gift today and directly support youth sports, arts, and music in Plumas County. Every dollar stays local and makes a lasting impact.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or (530) 268-5422.
