Communities In Schools of Nevada
While Santa Claus is best known for delivering gifts around the world on Christmas Eve, the big guy took some time out this past December to join the annual Santa Tea event put on by Communities In Schools of Nevada at Simon Restaurant & Lounge at Palms Place.
More than 140 adults and children came out to support the organization, which raised more than $8,000 at the family affair. Kids participated in seasonal activities such as decorating gingerbread cookies, playing festive games and taking pictures with Santa himself. Adults weren’t neglected either as they were treated to specialty spritzers while mingling with family and friends. Executive Chef Kerry Simon was also on hand, dishing out some of his famous small plates. The little ones got to taste mini burgers and mac & cheese croquettes, while the adults sampled California rolls and margherita pizza. The tantalizing treats continued after dinner as the renowned holiday junk food platter of cookies, cupcakes and fudge made the rounds.
Thanks to the participation and support of some of Las Vegas’ most generous citizens and giving families, CISN is able to continue its mission to surround at-risk youth with a community of support that empowers them to stay in school and achieve everything they can in life.
For more information on how you can help Communities In Schools of Nevada, visit www.cisnevada.org.
Koko FitClub
For more than 30 years, Safe Nest has helped over 300,000 men, women and children in Clark County recover from the horrors of domestic violence. To help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need, Koko FitClub partnered with the local charity this past season to donate some much needed clothes, items and supplies to some of the valley’s most distressed citizens.
Since opening their first location in April of 2011, Koko FitClub has been determined to start a new tradition and make a commitment to reaching out to the community and lending a hand wherever and however they can. In joining with Safe Nest, they’re helping break the cycle of abuse and assisting local families through some of the most difficult days of their lives.
During the holiday drive, Koko collected nearly 50 bags of clothes and boxes of gently used clothing, housewares and toys. Many club members showed tremendous generosity by purchasing new toys and other items for donation. Koko’s owners, Matt and Shari Meehan, were overwhelmed by the charitable response from everyone involved. Victims of domestic violence may face an uphill battle to improve their quality of life, but with the help of kind-hearted donations from businesses like Koko FitClub, their worlds will see a much needed ray of hope.
For more information on how you can help Safe Nest, visit www.safenest.org.
Blaze Trumble and Community Associations Institute of Nevada
Most kids want a hot new video game or an iPhone for their birthday, but that’s not the case with eight-year-old Blaze Trumble. For the past three years, Blaze has celebrated his special day by supporting the community, a trend that continued this past holiday season as Blaze teamed up with Community Associations Institute of Nevada to help the homeless and those in need.
Blaze spearheaded the most recent “Blanket the Community” drive and collected over 600 jackets and blankets for the needy in Las Vegas. He even asked his friends for donations instead of birthday gifts. This was his fourth year embarking on his charity venture, fulfilling his annual birthday wish. Community Associations Institute of Nevada, whose local chapter serves the needs of volunteer leaders and professionals throughout the Las Vegas and Reno areas, is honored to be a part of making Blaze’s dream a reality. “We are very pleased to join in this endeavor to help the less fortunate,” said CAI Executive Director Mary Rendina.
Goodwill and compassion are nothing new for Blaze, a fact that makes his parents proud. “Blaze hopes to make his birthday wish come true once again and give to those who need it most,” said his mother Frannie Trumble. “A small gesture can go a long way, especially to those in need.”
For more information on Community Associations Institute of Nevada, visit www.cai-nevada.org.
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort and Centennial Hills Hospital
The proportion of skiing and snowboarding head injuries is higher in children than any other age group. To help emphasize the importance of ski slope safety, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort and Centennial Hills Hospital teamed up to provide hundreds of free ski helmets to local children throughout the month of January in conjunction with Lids on Kids, a national ski and snowboard safety education program.
Now in its fourth year, the program has donated a significant number of ski and snowboard helmets to help local youth get the safeguards they need while enjoying their favorite winter sports. “Fit is critical to a helmet’s ability to perform its intended function in the event of an accident,” says Kevin Stickelman, president and general manager at LVSSR, so to help ensure proper protection, trained volunteers were on hand to fit toddlers through pre-teens for their complimentary helmets. Then, before heading to the lift, children and parents participated in a short education program on ski slope safety and responsibility as part of the free service.
“In today’s troubled economy, LVSSR wants to ensure that cost doesn’t interfere with safety,” says Stickelman, “so while most resorts only offer helmet education, LVSSR takes it one step further. We believe that the health and safety of our kids is priceless.”
For more information on Lids on Kids, visit www.skilasvegas.com or www.lidsonkids.org.
13th Annual Make a Difference Day Food Drive
Las Vegas is known for being a city filled with prominent figures, and despite their busy schedules, they’re always willing to help out with a good cause. That special brand of solidarity was out in force as part of the national 13th Annual Make a Difference Day Food Drive held at the Summerlin Smith’s Food and Drug on Saturday, October 22nd.
International star Robin Leach, X Factor contestants Equality and Mayor Pro Tem Stavros S. Anthony joined with local TV news personalities to lend support to the yearly drive to benefit the Las Vegas Chapter Salvation Army Food Bank. Philanthropist Mary Vail, OSG hosted the drive, which successfully collected 3,880 pounds of food and other necessities. Vail was also instrumental in encouraging businesses across the valley to host their own in-office food drives this year.
To date, the annual food drive has collected over 44,480 pounds of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items and has received numerous recognitions for its efforts to assist those in need. The Salvation Army Food Bank services over 200 families a day, 52 weeks a year. Thanks to the generous efforts of everyone involved in this year’s food drive, their mission of mercy shows no signs of slowing down. For more information on how you can help the Salvation Army, call 870-4430 or visit www.salvationarmylasvegas.com.
Humana Crafters for Charity
Once a week, a dedicated group of 20 local women get together for an afternoon of knitting and crocheting. But this isn’t just a hobby or a social hour for them. They’re putting their artistic, tailor-made talents to use for a good cause.
Humana Crafters for Charity have worked tirelessly throughout the year to fashion blankets, quilts, hats and scarves to be donated to Southern Nevada veterans. Each piece is unique and made with loving care, some taking over ten hours to complete, but it’s time well spent for these ladies if they can help benefit the community. For the second consecutive year, items will be donated via the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, which provides services to more than 35,000 local veterans each year. The generous contribution of much-needed blankets and clothing will help keep our less fortunate vets warm as the cold winter months approach.
Bound together by a love of community and a passion for crafting, Crafters for Charity is making life better for the less fortunate, one stitch at a time. For more information on the Humana Guidance Center in Henderson, or if you’re interested in joining the Crafters yourself, call 269-5200.
Windermere Real Estate
While they may be in the business of selling houses, Windermere Real Estate also believes that every child deserves to have a place they can call home. As part of their annual Community Service Day, Windermere helped make that dream a reality for the residents of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City.
On October 21st, Windermere volunteers spent the day at St. Jude’s 40-acre campus, weeding and landscaping the grounds, sorting and pricing inventory in the gift shop and organizing the mail room. Making life better for the abused, abandoned and neglected children who call the ranch home was a priority for Robyn Yates, Owner/Broker of Windermere Prestige Properties. “Helping create an environment that children can be proud to call ‘home’ is the perfect project for Windermere,” Yates said. “We want to show the residents at St. Jude’s there are people in the community who care about them.”
The idea of “home” may mean different things to different people, but thanks to the agents, staff and family members of Windermere, it means something special to the children of St. Jude’s. For more information on how you can help, call 294-7100 or visit www.stjudesranch.org.
Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Breast cancer affects the lives of millions of women each year, and Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar is doing their part to bring hope to those battling the disease. During the month of October, Fleming’s raised their glasses to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, urging everyone to indulge in two specialty beverages and “Drink Pink for the Cause!”
For the initiative, 100% of sales of the 99-calorie Stiletto cocktail went to the Avon Foundation, which supports finding a cure for breast cancer and advancing access to care for all, regardless of their ability to pay. Fleming’s also offered the smooth Cline Cashmere wine, a product of Cline Cellars, which supports Living Beyond Breast Cancer and has contributed more than $200,000 to breast cancer foundations. As an added bonus, each glass of Cline Cashmere came with a keepsake: a pink ribbon wine glass charm.
Launched in 1992, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has donated over $640 million to breast cancer programs around the world, and Fleming’s is proud to lend their name and full support to the cause. For more information on how you can help the Avon Foundation, call (866) 505-AVON or visit www.avonfoundation.org.
Rio Spa & Salon
The family who gives together stays together. Just ask the employees at the Rio Spa and Salon, or the Gellets, who made giving back a family (and extended family) affair at the Rio’s 2nd annual Locks of Love Cut-a-Thon in August. The event was held in honor of Rylie Cruz, the granddaughter of a longtime Rio employee, who lost her battle with cancer earlier this year.
Seven-year-old Rowena Gellet heard about the Cut-a-Thon and decided to donate her 19-inch ponytail, which had never been cut. Her father, Michael Gellet, donated 22-inches, bringing in the second longest donation of the day. The longest ponytail donation came from 12-year-old Hope Marroquin, who donated a Rapunzel-worthy 26-inch ponytail.
In total, the event raised 61 ponytails to benefit the nonprofit organization Locks of Love. Their mission is to return a sense of self-confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by using donated hair to create high-quality hair prosthetics. These wigs and hairpieces are then donated to children that have lost their own hair due to medical conditions like alopecia areata and cancer. The Rio will continue to collect ponytail donations all year long. If you’ve got some to give, visit www.riolasvegas.com or call 777-7779.
Sumita Beauty
In Hindu, the word “shukar” means gratitude; shukar gives abundance and makes you smile. It’s also the inspiration behind Sumita Beauty’s shukar bead bracelet initiative. This fashionable beaded bracelet represents Sumita Beauty’s gratitude, not only to their patrons, but to anybody who strives to make a difference in the lives of others.
Throughout the month of September, Sumita Beauty, leaders in the art of threading and Mehndi, will be selling shukar bead bracelets priced at $11, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the customer’s charity of choice. Here’s how it works: Go to Sumita Beauty’s website at www.sumitabeauty.com, click on the “Help us choose our charity” icon, vote for the charity you’d like to donate to and purchase your very own shukar bracelet. Options include City of Hope Medical Care, American India Foundation, Red Cross, Pratham and Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, but you may also write in a vote of your choice.
Patrons can also purchase and vote at Sumita’s Fashion Show Mall studio. The charity that receives the most votes will be the beneficiary of all the proceeds from the sale of the bracelets. Who knew giving back could be both gratifying and fashion-forward? For more info, call 462-7980 or visit Sumita’s website.
