The epic giveaways on KRLT with Ricky, Howie and Lisa - $120,000 and counting

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - What do you get when you mix two angels with a comic on morning radio in Lake Tahoe? Daily cash giveaways that can turn an ordinary day into something magical.

It started on November 7, 2018. Ricky Reich, a local man who has become known as "The Angel of Tahoe's Guardian," walked into the studios of KRLT-FM on Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, Nevada. He had been listening to Howie Nave's Morning Rush shown on the station and wanted to pay homage to Lisa Maloff, the Angel of Tahoe.

She had been giving away millions of dollars to the community and Ricky wanted to brag about Lisa on the radio.

At the controls of the mixer board at the radio station that morning (and every morning Monday through Friday) was Howie Nave. He didn't know Reich but had heard of what Lisa had done for the community.

Ricky wanted to give away cash in a live contest in Lisa's honor. It was to be a daily contest through the holidays that year, but once January 2019 came along the cash giveaways became a weekly event (and sometimes more).

"Not only did I feel honored," Howie said of Ricky coming through the doors that day, "I was kind of a confirmation of sorts that a lot of folks have been listening to my show for years."

Ricky had been a listener as were his friends that referred him to Howie.

"I never know who is listening," he said. "Having Ricky on hs taken it to a whole different level."

Since December 1, 2019, Ricky has been giving away about $1,000 a day. The start off amount is $500, but if the correct caller knows the answer to the question which had been shared the day before, that amount is doubled. He and Ricky banter in the studio, having fun with what they are about to do, then deliver the cash to the lucky winner. Sometimes its harder to tell who is having more fun, Ricky, Howie or the lucky caller.

So far, $120,000 has been given out over the air, thanks to the continued generosity of Lisa and her trusted friend, Ricky.

Lisa "The Angel of Tahoe" Maloff moved to South Lake Tahoe with her husband Robert in 1958. She had gone to UCLA to study education (and was on the Dean's List) before heading to Lake Tahoe. She attended classes during the day and worked as a seamstress at night for $2.50 an hour.

Once at the lake she worked in the entertainment department at Harrah's Tahoe, helping the celebrities with wardrobe and other needs when they came to town to perform. She says she was like a "Girl Friday," she said.

Her favorite? Sammy Davis, Jr.

"He came once a year and always remembered me," said Lisa. "He came by and said 'Hi Lisa'."

Lisa left Harrah's after ten years to travel with Kay Starr, an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940s and 1950s. Husband Robert stayed in Tahoe to tend to his business while Lisa was able to travel with Starr around the world.

"Robert let me go anytime, anywhere," said Lisa.

Since she was able to travel around the world, when asked where her favorite place was she said "Lake Tahoe" without hesitation.

"The fresh air and it's beautiful," Lisa said of her favorite spot. "Tahoe has everything!"

Her philanthropy came in the way of service in those earlier days. She and long-time local Patti Olsen would prepare meals for the community's senior citizen shut-ins and deliver them through the Meals on Wheels program.

"We shopped, cooked and prepared the meals," she said of the daily food program. "I wanted to be one of the shut-ins, our food was really good."

After Robert's death in 2011, Lisa started to give away the fortune they earned after decades of hard work.

"I am very fortunate and very happy to be able to share through my good fortune," said Lisa of the money she's been giving to the community. "I am happy to share it with those less fortunate."

Here are some of those donations made: $10M to Barton Health for the Robert Maloff Center for Orthopedics and Wellness, $5.8M to Lake Tahoe Community College for the Lisa Maloff University Center, $3M to Whittel High School for their track and football field, $3M to the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club for half of their new facility, $500K to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care for the building of their new bear enclosures, $390K to each South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District for new rescue boats, $280K to Lake Valley Fire for a new training tower, $225K to each Tahoe Youth and Family Services and Tahoe Women's Community Fund, $200K to the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association for a new police dog, $225 to the El Dorado County Community Foundation for use by numerous organizations, $200K for the historic Olympic track restoration at South Tahoe Middle School, $125K to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for canine support, $100K to the FEET Fund, and tens of thousands of dollars to numerous other organizations inluding South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, Sierra-at-Tahoe development league, Tahoe Arts Project, Live Violence Free, Tahoe Douglas Rotary, AVID at South Tahoe High, Heavenly Ski Foundation, Family Resource Center, Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Epic Curling ice project, Bijou Community School, Between Horses & Humans, and Tahoe Magic.

She donated funds to Douglas County for their remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the same one that went into Lake Baron on November 29 to locate the body of drowning victim David Schmidt.

Now 90-years-old (she'll be 91 in February), Lisa spends her day at home, walking on the covered rear deck and enjoying games of solitaire.

Lisa also listens to the radio while Ricky and Howie give away the cash.

"It's very satisfying," she says. "Some of the winners come and give me a hug."

Ricky says she loves those hugs!

He will be taking a break from the on-air giveaways in 2020 and will think of something new to do.

In the meantime, Thank you, Lisa and Ricky!