Our Mission
Sierra Partnership for Advanced Wildfire Detection (SPAWD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prevents catastrophic wildfires by spotting them earlier. Run by locals Grayson Knauf and Jackson Mangiaracina, we’ve seen the threats to the Sierra every year. To protect the Tahoe Basin, we work with Dryad to deploy wildfire sensors that give early alerts—alerts that can save lives.
Our Team
Grayson Knauf
Co-President
My name is Grayson, and I am a junior at Incline High School. I’m committed to strong academic performance and love exploring subjects that push me to think critically and creatively. I started this non-profit in the face of the countless wildfires raging on the west coast. It is our mission to one day protect the entire Tahoe Basin from the threat of forest fires.
Contact:
(415) 827-0789
Jackson Mangiaracina
Co-President
My name is Jackson, and I am a junior at Incline High School. I have lived in Incline Village since I was born. I enjoy mountain biking, skiing, and playing soccer. As Co-President of SPAWD, my goal is to help protect our communities, outdoor recreation, and natural ecosystems by advancing early wildfire detection and supporting proactive, science-based solutions.
Contact:
(775) 813-9652
Check out our submission video for The Bill of Rights Institute’s MyImpact Challenge.
Logan Rive
Treasurer
My name is Logan, and I am a student at Incline High School with strong interests in engineering, finance, and entrepreneurship. As treasurer of SPAWD, I help manage funds and support efforts to protect our community from wildfire risks. Through past fundraising experience with GivePower, I have learned how to lead and organize impactful projects.
Contact:
(775) 527-6693
Anthony Donahue
Secretary
My name is Anthony, and I am a junior at Incline High School. My passions include golf, skiing, and finance. I have lived in Tahoe since I was a kid and keeping the forests and surrounding areas safe and beautiful is a big passion for me. In the past, I visited a small village in Columbia where I went on a service mission to help supply rural villages with power. As the secretary of SPAWD, my mission is to give back to my community by organizing events, helping website management, and dealing with any and all inquiries about SPAWD.
Contact:
(775) 430-2096