Ice money

Thirty-three local charities are recipients of money from Black Rock City LLC, the corporation that stages Burning Man in northeastern Washoe County. Pershing County and Gerlach/Empire organizations made up the largest group of recipients. The money— $130,000 in 2007—is generated by the sale of ice at the Burning Man festival. The Pershing County donations are helpful in deflecting criticism once widely heard that Pershing must provide heavy use of its public services for the festival, but most of the taxes generated go to Washoe.

Besides the ice money, the proceeds from all aluminum cans collected at the festival go to the Gerlach High School student government.