Browsing articles from "March, 2010"

Dr. James Beckwith

Mar 16, 2010 // by admin // Meet Your Neighbor // No Comments

By Callie Thomas

Imagine what it might be like if you were unable to witness the most important moments of your life. First love, your wedding, a child’s birth, graduation, your parent’s golden anniversary and such. To ensure that our community and those around the world are able to view these and other cherished events is the vision of resident Dr. James Beckwith. As an optometrist of more than 20 years, Dr. Beckwith of Vision Source Summerlin/Lakes has merged his exceptional skills in the field with his dedication to helping others. “I think most people would consider the gift of eyesight to be our most precious sense,” said Beckwith.

It was at the age of ten that Dr. Beckwith became fascinated with optometry. While having his first eye examination, he thought the optometrist had “great toys.” And so began a lifelong passion for helping others see things clearly–as well as utilizing the latest technological resources in the field. He established his practice at the Lakes Business Park when there was little else in the neighborhood at the time. It turned out to be a wise decision due to the enormous growth of the community over the last two decades. He has amassed a great many patients, not only because of his skill but because of his compassionate nature as well as his sense of humor and eternal smile.

While Dr. Beckwith is passionate about his work, he shares an equal passion for helping others. “I learned about community involvement from my parents who volunteered for seemingly everything at St. Viator Parish,” he said. “My first involvement with community service as a professional was as the Southern Nevada Chair of VISION USA through the Nevada Optometric Association.”

Dr. Beckwith does much to help the underprivileged in regards to eyesight. “I’ve taken care of people in the office through different programs, including VISION USA which provides free eye exams for low income patients; the Clark County School District partnership program that works with financially challenged students regarding their health needs; Homeless Outreach; as well as fundraising efforts for Optometry Giving Sight and The Foundation for Fighting Blindness.” Beckwith has also coordinated the ten optometric offices in his group to offer annual free screenings for those at risk for glaucoma and diabetes. “Our ability to diagnose glaucoma in its early stages is one of the greatest advances in our field,” he said. “But we need those high-risk patients in our office to do that. The free screenings give the added incentive to get those people in the door.”

Beckwith has taken his efforts out of the country, providing care and eyeglasses through an organization called VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). VOSH organizes eye care mission trips throughout the world. The happily married doctor of 23 years took his family, including wife Kimberly and their three teenage sons Dean, Dylan and Devin, to an impoverished region of Mexico. The four day trip included a group of doctors who attended to the health care needs of roughly 1000 patients. “It definitely was not a trip to Disney Land for the kids, but it was a great experience for them; they were able to learn about giving back and gain an understanding of how fortunate they are. It was an incredible experience. I believe that trip made an indelible mark on my sons’ characters.”

Dr. James Beckwith envisions the world through the perspective of Frank Capra’s fictional character, George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a fortunate man and fulfilled by his service to others. “If I’ve done my best I consider myself successful regardless of the outcome. Contributing unconditionally to those in need helps foster community spirit, which is important to living a fulfilling life.”

Latoya Bembry

Mar 16, 2010 // by admin // A Step Above // 1 Comment

By Callie Thomas

“A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” -Isadora James

In a perfect world, a sister would be bright, bubbly, smart, keep all your secrets, run interference between you and your parents and most of all be your friend. We have the opportunity to call resident Latoya Bembry the perfect sister to our community. She IS bright, bubbly, smart and is the one that many count on in our community for support and an open heart.

The native Nevadan grew up in a very small town called Indian Springs, about 30 minutes northeast of North Las Vegas. “The town is so small that residents have to travel to Vegas to do everything from banking, shopping, doctor’s visits and more,” says Bembry. “So technically I’m from Las Vegas!” Growing up in a small community with a loving family, including parents Ann and Calvin and older brother Lyric, has instilled a sense of caring for others that has transcended into her choice of career as a public relations account executive at the Ferraro Group. “I’ve been with the company for more than six years and work with a group of people that I genuinely love and care about,” she said. “Community service goes hand-in-hand when working for a public relations agency, and my company strongly believes in its importance and encourages its employees to donate their time.”

Latoya has taken that notion to heart. In fact, she has given her heart as well as her talents to a number of local organizations, including the Anthony L. Pollard Foundation, Boys Town of Southern Nevada, Susan G. Komen, Opportunity Village, MDA, American Heart Association, Nevada AIDS Project, the Las Vegas NAACP Political Action Committee and Soldiers’ Angels, just to name a few. “I think it’s not only important to give back, but important to give back to a cause that you truly care about.”

There is one organization that has had a significant impact on Bembry’s life and, in effect, has touched the life of one in need of a little sisterly time and friendship. Her most cherished involvement is as a Big Sister for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. The organization helps children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships. Bembry knew she would be a prime candidate to be a mentor even at an earlier age. “I love children and get along very well with them even though I do not have children of my own nor are there any young children in my family,” she said. “I actually applied to be a Big sister when I was 24 but felt that I still had to achieve more personal growth to positively impact a child’s life. Now that I’m 29, I feel there are so many things that I can share with my Little Sister.”

Latoya gets that opportunity every week when she sees her Little Sister Imaesia, who, at age six, seems to be perfectly matched with Bembry’s upbeat personality. “She loves to talk and share her day, her hobbies and interests, and the love she has for her mother which resonates with me because I’m so close to my own. That’s the power of children; one smile can make even a bad day great!”

Latoya Bembry’s “can do” attitude and desire to help others is a direct reflection of her upbringing, where she was always made to feel that she could do anything she wanted as long as she was willing to work hard for it. Bembry continues to work hard in her efforts to lend support and make a positive impact on others. “Community service to me is having a passion about a cause and committing to make a difference.”

Carolyn Wheeler

Mar 16, 2010 // by admin // A Step Above, Meet Your Neighbor // 1 Comment

By Callie Thomas

Some people just never say no. Thankfully, our community is that much the better because 89135 resident Carolyn Wheeler is always willing to lend a hand, even though she leads a busy life as a wife, mother and business owner. It is her generous heart that reaches out and is a part of the change that makes a difference in the lives of families in our neighborhood.

The longtime Las Vegas resident is adept at “juggling plates in the air” working tirelessly at home with daughter Lindsay and husband Brian, in her career as a marketing director, as well as involving herself in community organizations. “I’ve always been very involved in the community,” says Wheeler. “I joined the Junior League where I got my first glimpse of the community and how big the need is here. I served on their board for many years and enjoyed helping out in a variety of capacities.”

Carolyn is also a Junior Achievement volunteer, a Girl Scout Leader, serves on the PLT board at her daughter’s school and recently went back to work as the State Marketing Director for Communities In Schools of Nevada through the VISTA program. As if that weren’t giving enough, she also serves as the Board President for an organization which has become one of the most dear to her heart called Family to Family Connection, Las Vegas West.

Family to Family empowers and supports families and provides a safe and nurturing environment for their children from birth up to age four through parent education and community networking. “I took my daughter to Family to Family when she was a newborn,” Carolyn said. “The classes were invaluable and even more so were the relationships that were formed. It is a great place to go where you feel like family and can network with other moms who are going through the same ups and downs of parenthood. In fact, I still get together with a family that I met there when my daughter was only eight weeks old.”

The nonprofit organization offers free classes to parents as well as makes visits to new mothers at Mountain View Hospital and home visits upon request. “I wanted to find some way to repay the organizers for the free classes and invaluable information in some way, and when I asked the Executive Director, Dianne Farkas, what I could do, she asked me to be on her board.”

Six years ago the organization was looking for a new approach to help raise funds for the program. Out of that brainstorming session a special event called TOUCH-A-TRUCK became a reality. It is a one-of-a-kind offering that gives children an opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite big rigs, fire trucks, police cars and military vehicles. What kid wouldn’t want to get behind the wheel, honk the horn and talk to the hometown heroes who drive them every day?

Each year the program has grown by leaps and bounds and has been held at the Orleans Arena for the last few years to accommodate the throngs of kids and parents at the event. “Last year we had 90 trucks and 5,500 people and introduced a horn free hour for children with special needs in addition to a Jaws of Life demonstration by the fire department. It was incredible. We’re expecting another great TOUCH-A-TRUCK event on March 20,” Wheeler said.

Carolyn Wheeler refuses to say no and continues to give back to the community. “Creating a caring environment and being a positive role model for the children of our community is essential in setting an example for future generations.” For information on this year’s TOUCH-A-TRUCK event, visit www.touchatruck.net.

Andrew Wright

Mar 16, 2010 // by admin // A Step Above // 1 Comment

By Callie Thomas

“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done…. All you need is love, love; love is all you need.”

– John Lennon/Paul McCartney

“I love my job!” exclaims resident Andrew Wright. He has good reason, working directly with the six Liverpool Lads of the popular Cirque du Soleil show LOVE at the Mirage. After all, in Wright’s world, it’s totally commonplace to have someone walk on their hands past your dressing room door. The concept of the LOVE show is perhaps the epitome of what makes Andrew Wright tick. In addition to a passion for the arts and sharing them with everyone, even those who are not able to afford to witness the magic of live performance, Wright is an optimist. If there’s a will there’s a way. And that will has grown into the formation of a nonprofit group called RagTag Entertainment, which reaches out to help those in need in our community.

The eight year resident’s love of the arts started at an early age. “I saw The Phantom of the Opera when I was in middle school and immediately turned to the chaperone and said, ‘This is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.’” If his parents had not sent Andrew on that fateful trip, he would never have imagined the possibilities. RagTag ensures that other kids have the same opportunity as Wright. The organization was conceived nearly ten years ago while Andrew was choreographing The Wizard of Oz in New York. “The director and I were close friends and created this vision together. While she tragically passed away later that year, I vowed to keep this dream alive. With RagTag, we do our best to make sure as many kids as possible are introduced to the arts.”

RagTag puts on full scale production musicals and plays bringing all different types of performance art to our schools for free. It’s taken on sort of a pied piper effect, gathering others who have a yearning to perform and share it with the community. “In our shows at schools, we not only bring in working performers, but use local kids of all ages and local adults. One show had the school principal playing piano for our singers,” says Wright, admitting his extreme gratitude for the artists who do the show. “Not every style will speak to every kid, so we bring a little of everything–jazz, opera, plays, musical theater, dance, puppetry, you name it.”

RagTag has also assisted local charities as well as families in need. “One family in particular ran into very serious health problems this last fall, and we were able to provide entertainment at an event to help the family,” he said. “It’s great being a part of everyone coming together to help someone in a dark hour.” The group tries to pair their shows and events in a way that best assists the individual charities they support, whether it be food drives, clothing drives, or other ways to help. One charity that Wright has a personal affection for is called “Walking the Roads.” The organization collects used shoes to distribute to villages in Africa. “We collect at shows and appearances and we’ll be sending a singer to perform at an upcoming event in Phoenix this month.”

Community is everything to Andrew Wright and his wife Amanda. They lead by example, instilling a passion for the arts and helping others early on in their one year old daughter Ava. He is intent on making a positive impact on the world and hopes to inspire local businesses to lend their support. “I love hearing kids asking their parents to enroll them in dance, voice or other forms of entertainment as they are leaving our performances. Each time, that’s one more kid or family whose lives will be better through music and the arts.” For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, email RagTagent@yahoo.com or look for them on Facebook.

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