The E Bunny is Back
The E Bunny is back! He’s continuing a 20 year hop along to bring hope, joy and renewal to children and teens in need by distributing Easter baskets to those who may not have received one otherwise. There’s just one bit of eggshell in the mix this year; due to the flagging economy, he’s faced with a new challenge–collecting enough baskets to make a significant difference in the lives of our valley’s underprivileged youth.
In 2009, E Bunny delivered more than 2750 Easter baskets to homeless children in temporary housing and some of the poorest areas in Las Vegas. E Bunny 2010 may need reinforcements. Statistics show there are more than five thousand homeless children and teens in our city at any given time. Now more than ever, E Bunny is relying on the spirit of community to reach as many kids as possible.
You can help by joining the “One Special Basket for One Special Child” program and donating a basket by March 26, 2010. It’s easy! All you need do is purchase a pre-packaged Easter basket (they do not accept monetary contributions), take it to an E Bunny drop off location which can be found at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/ebunny, and encourage your friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers to do it too! Join a community that cares for kids and help make a difference in a child’s life!
Christmas Can Cure
Christmas Can Cure
Thousands upon thousands of men and women have been deployed to Iraq over the past several years. Many of those that return face new battles at home. “The wars of the last six years have left our country with over 35,000 wounded veterans. For these warriors and their families, returning to civilian life and coping with their disabilities has many challenges,” said Andre Carrier of Christmas Can Cure. “For many, the mental and physical strain only gets worse around the holidays.”
That is why the Carrier Family created the nonprofit Christmas Can Cure (CCC) in 2008. The organization seeks to give military families in need the opportunity to experience a perfect Christmas by treating selected families to a joyous celebration with a hero’s welcome. Teaming up with another nonprofit called the Wounded Warrior Project, CCC’s goal is to reenergize and renew the spirit of Christmas while providing a vehicle for grateful citizens to show their thanks to the men and women who’ve served our country.
On December 12th, 2009, CCC held a 5K run and 1-mile walk at Paseo Verde Park in Henderson, during which veterans and others participated to raise awareness of the organization’s mission. Shortly after the race, Andre Carrier and his long-time friend Greg Lee, a Vegas resident, spearheaded tandem Christmas events for warriors and their families in Park City, Utah and Jackson, New Hampshire.
“By doing our part in giving back to our warriors on military-related holidays, we hope to put a name, a face and a story to our vets’ incredible contribution,” said Lee. For more information on Christmas Can Cure, visit www.christmascancure.org.
Paint the Village Purple
So you’ve probably heard the phrase “to think pink” in relation to breast cancer. Well this year, with January’s Paint the Village Purple event, the American Cancer Society gave those affected by cancer and their supporters an opportunity to start 2010 on the good foot and add another color to their spectrum of awareness.
Paint the Village Purple brought families to MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas for a fun day of activities in support of a great cause. In addition to ice skating, shopping and dining specials and special prize giveaways, visitors were given the opportunity to donate to, and learn how to pre-register for, the annual Relay for Life event that will be held April 24, 2010 at Palo Verde High School.
Relay for Life is a fundraising event that gives communities across the world a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember lost loved ones and fight back against the disease. During this 24-hour event, relay teams will camp out on Palo’s field while at least one member of their team is walking or running on the track at any given time. If you missed your chance to paint the village purple, visit www.relayforlife.org to learn how you can participate in the fun, family Relay for Life.
CSN Foundation
Making a Difference
CSN Foundation
The College of Southern Nevada Foundation is always looking for fun, new ways to bring funding to programs at CSN. “Extra-curricular activities provide students with an outlet to meet new people, provide practical application to what they’ve learned in their classes and generally feel engaged with their college or university,” said Jacque Matthews of the CSN Foundation. “Being able to offer potential and current students a wide array of programs and services, a nationally known baseball team, scholarship opportunities and more is a big reason why CSN is the fourth largest two-year college of its kind in the United States.”
To fulfill their mission, the foundation found a winner in 2008 with the inaugural Golf Classic, featuring celebrity MLB players Greg Maddux, Aaron Rowan, James Shields, Mike Dunn and Reed Johnson. After much success and positive feedback, the CSN Foundation decided to plan the 2nd annual event in November of 2009 at the Dragon Ridge Country Club. With a line up that included all the same celebrity players as the first event, plus Steve Garvey of LA Dodger fame, this 2nd annual event was another great success and a celebration of CSN’s already nationally recognized baseball team. Proceeds benefited CSN athletics programs, which must be funded primarily with private donations.
CSN Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to managing and disbursing private funds for the growth and improvement of higher education in our city. For more information, call 651-7301.
11th Annual Make a Difference Day Food Drive
11th Annual Make a Difference Day Food Drive
For over a decade and counting, the Annual Food Drive benefiting the Las Vegas Chapter Salvation Army Food Bank has been a source of hope, inspiration and, of course, nutrition, for those less fortunate in the community. This year, the 11th annual event held at Smith’s Food and Drug, 2211 N. Rampart in Summerlin, was no exception.
Local philanthropist Mary Vail, OSG established the annual drive as part of Make a Difference Day, a nationwide charity event. Over the years, the food drive has collected well over 34,000 pounds of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items. A staggering 4,680 pounds of non-perishable food was collected this year alone! With guest appearances and donations from NBC-KVBC TV-3 News Anchor Maria Silva, Frankie Scinta of The Scintas, ABC-KTNV TV-13 News Anchor Casey Smith, KVVU Fox-5 News Anchors Dave Hall & Heidi Hayes, KVVU Fox-5 Meteorologist Ted Pretty and Author Joe Vassallo of Paragon Pools, the day was a memorable one garnering much support from the community.
Even better, the event encouraged families to work together and experience the joy of giving, as Vail noted, “Our celebrities, sponsors and volunteers brought their kids, and more shoppers encouraged their children to get involved by having them select the food items donated.” Is there a better way to spend “the largest day of volunteering?” We think not.
Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School
Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School has been crusading for a higher purpose for 31 years: to provide a quality and balanced education in a Christ-centered environment. Making this kind of education accessible to those who cannot afford it takes the help of many generous donors, and, as Executive Director Kevin Dunning says, “When a student is eager to learn and grow in their faith, cost should not deter their purpose.”
From this noble cause came the Scholarship Endowment Gala, an annual tradition for the past nine years. Since its inception, the gala has raised almost $1.6 million. With Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL coach Mike Ditka in attendance, this year’s event on November 17, 2009 raised over $100,000. This endowment will help support over $75,000 in tuition assistance to families who would otherwise not be able to afford a private Christian education for their child at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School.
“All scholarships at Faith Lutheran are need-based and have helped contribute to the school’s extraordinarily high graduation rate,” says Dunning. “Many of these students will continue on to receive additional scholarships to prestigious universities across the nation.”
The largest non-public school in Nevada, Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School, has a record enrollment of 1,320 students. To learn more about the school, visit www.faithlutheranlv.org.
