Luke Thomas
It’s a recurring question: “Can one person really change things?” But the answer is simple…yes! You’ll find proof in 15-year-old Luke Thomas who, with his sights set on obtaining Eagle Scout status, lent a major helping hand to the Paseo Verde Library.
When Luke caught wind that the library’s children’s section needed a makeover, he organized an inspiring solution. First, he brought in about 25 friends to help re-organize an estimated 9,000 books in the section. For the second phase, Luke enlisted the help of his father Ralph Thomas, an artist, to create an inspiring mural that will no doubt excite the imaginations of the library’s littlest patrons for generations to come. “Having the mural on our wall really brightens the room and makes it more child friendly,” said Betsy Johnson, youth services department head. “It adds a wonderful dimension to our story room that we would not have been able to do ourselves.”
Prior to this project, Luke earned 21 merit badges, proving not only his devotion to the Scout spirit, but also his ability to plan, organize, lead and manage. Now the proof is forever in the pudding, or in this case, the revamped children’s section of the Paseo Verde Library. Visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 492-6580 for more info.
Michaela Perry’s Silver Award
Whoever deemed silver second best must not have been familiar with the charitable endeavors of the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada. The organization’s coveted Silver Award calls young scouts to harness their own leadership skills and test their dedication to the community.
Michaela Perry, a 12-year-old Girl Scout, stepped up to this challenge by organizing a water drive. After collecting more than 15,000 bottles of water to give to the homeless, she arranged not only the water’s temporary storage, but also its eventual distribution by the Water for Life ministry of Community Lutheran Church. Because of Michaela’s heart and hard work, countless people in need will find an oasis amidst Las Vegas’ intense summer heat.
One of the greatest achievements for girls scouts grades six through eight, winning the Silver Award is no small task. It requires time and devotion, planning and action. Scouts like Michaela who seek to earn the prestigious award are required to develop their own plan for the community and see it through, all the way to its dynamic conclusion. The result is nothing short of remarkable, and in our book, it’s as good as gold. To learn more about Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and The Silver Award, visit www.girlscoutsnv.org.
Dunkin’ Donuts
America runs on Dunkin’. Susan G. Komen runs on the generosity of the community. In one lane, you’ve got America’s favorite stop for coffee and tasty baked goodies. In the other, you’ve got the global leader of the breast cancer movement. At the March 16th grand opening of Dunkin’ Donuts’ 14th Southern Nevada location, Dunkin’ lovers discovered what truly sweet things happen when the two run right into each other.
Starting with a 7:30 a.m. dash, Dunkin’ joined the race against breast cancer by selling special pink frosted donuts in honor of the upcoming Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which will be held on May 7th. In addition to selling the heavenly pink pastries, the location also collected donations for the event, and representatives were on hand to register interested patrons.
“As we gear up to expand further in Southern Nevada, we are always pleased to show our commitment and support to local charitable endeavors,” said Bert Hayenga, Chief Executive Officer of First Cup, a local franchise group for Dunkin’ Donuts. “The Susan G. Komen foundation is an example of one such organization that has brought a lot of awareness and strength to our community members.” As if we needed another reason to indulge in some Dunkin’! Visit www.dunkindonuts.com and www.komensouthernnevada.org for more info.
Health Investment Partnership and Nevada Youth
Each day, more than 4,000 kids try their first cigarette; another 1,000 become addicted smokers. Health Investment Partnership (HIP), Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.) and other Nevada youth are working toward ending this sad trend in a most sensible way…by kicking butts!
Thousands of local teens and HIP members joined forces to honor Kick Butts Day, a nationwide initiative held March 23rd this year, in an effort to stop youth tobacco use. Omega Gents youth guidance organization created an informational booth at Western High School; Sierra Vista’s Key Club created a flash mob at their lunches highlighting the dangers of smoking; Casa de Luz, an inner city faith-based group, created fact cards and passed out information on smoking cessation; Students from Cheyenne, Rancho, Arbor View and SWCTA High Schools participated in the “Be a flower and not a butt” campaign; and Basic High School Key Club and Student Council developed and wore signs with tobacco statistics.
“The tobacco companies make smoking look cool in their ads, but that’s nothing but a lie,” said Sean Judd, a member of T.A.T.U. “There’s nothing cool about bad breath, a nasty cough and an early death.” These teens are our future, and we applaud their creative efforts to make it free from the devastating consequences of tobacco use. For more information, visit www.tobaccofreenv.org.
Carole Slotemaker Ryland
Carole Slotemaker Ryland was, among many things, a beloved teacher at Bob Miller Middle School until her passing in May of 2010. One of our community’s unsung heroes, it is for her efforts to bring education, love and compassion to the community that we now share her story.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in Art, Carole completed her Master’s in Education and began teaching with the Clark County School District in 1982. Throughout her career, she shared her passion for the classics with students at Woodbury Jr. High School, Greenspun Jr. High School, The Meadows School and Miller Middle School. But her passion spread far beyond the classroom and into the community with her volunteer work with the Children’s Services Guild and her devotion to aspiring writers with the Southern Nevada Young Writers Project.
Carole will be remembered for her kind and generous spirit, and her untiring efforts as a teacher to bring out the best in each of her students. In memoriam of all that Carole contributed to the community, a scholarship fund has been set up in her name. More information about the Carole Slotemaker Ryland Memorial Scholarship can be found at www.thepef.org/scholarships.xml.
Robert “Bobby” Ellis
Not long ago, in the quiet aisles of Green Valley Library, teen services librarian Jessica Sullenberger and a handful of teens had a wish: to create a Teen Lounge inside the library. All they needed was the cash, so they entered the Pepsi Refresh Challenge for a chance to win a $25,000 grant. While the library ranked 158th out of 1096 in the challenge, an amazing feat in itself, they fell short of winning the grant.
Upon hearing this news, local philanthropist and business-owner Robert “Bobby” Ellis came in with a rather unexpected assist, donating $25,000 of his own money to the cause. “This is the future generation that will run this country, and if they have a place to go, it’s great for them,” said Ellis, president and CEO of Snap Towing.
Through his generosity, Ellis all but guaranteed they’d have that place, along with great things to go inside. When finished, the Teen Lounge will double the space available for teen studying and socializing, and be filled with furniture, computer equipment, art, electronics, a video game library and a high-interest, non-fiction book collection. That’s a fairy-tale ending we can sink our teeth into. For information on the Teen Lounge, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 492-6581.
Spread the Word Nevada
February 25th was a great day to celebrate for local elementary school students and Spread the Word Nevada. Not only did the day mark Spread the Word Nevada’s adoption of Lincoln Elementary School, it was also a 10-year milestone for the nonprofit organization.
Dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy, Spread the Word places books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada”s low income communities through various programs. Through school adoptions, Spread the Word provides students at adopted schools with monthly book distributions and family literacy services they might not otherwise have access to. “It is an on-going struggle for schools to help low income communities support the academics of their students at home,” stated Lincoln Elementary School principal Keith France.
Lincoln is the 23rd school adopted by Spread the Word in ten years, so the event was cause for celebration. At two surprise assemblies highlighting the organization’s Kids to Kids program, Laurie Hartig, Founder and Program Director, kept students in suspense as she guided them on a magic carpet ride describing the adventures experienced through books. After the celebration, each student walked away with their very own tote bag and five books. For more information, visit www.spreadthewordnevada.org.
Foundation for Positively Kids
Spring cleaning came early this year, bringing with it a spirit of renewal at the Foundation for Positively Kids’ Brighten Up the Bins event on March 25th. During the mass volunteer effort, over 200 community leaders, supporters and students revealed the true colors of charity as they slapped fresh coats of yellow and red paint on 145 of the foundation’s clothing donation bins.
More than just drop off spots for unwanted clothing, these bins provide necessary funds the foundation has used to help over 8,000 medically fragile and terminally ill children since its inception in 1999. Each year, over $125,000 is generated from clothing donations at these bins, which are placed at retailers across the valley. All proceeds directly fund patient services, such as skilled pediatric nursing, home health care services, medical daycare and early intervention services.
“Our bins provide an inexpensive way to help our mission of providing quality of life for medically fragile, medically dependent, and developmentally delayed children,” said Fred Schultz, CEO of Positively Kids. “We hope our newly ‘brightened bins’ will help spread the word on the importance of supporting these children.” Check for bins at retailers such as Walgreens, City Stops and Speedee Marts near you. For more information, visit www.positivelykids.org.
Aid for AIDS of Nevada
This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s little piggies raised $20,925.61 to prove that every little piggy does count! In fairness, they didn’t do it alone. They had help from AFAN and some generous donors on a mission to increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education for HIV/AIDS.
During the Every Piggy Counts initiative, AFAN handed out approximately 500 wee little piggy banks throughout the community. Families were then encouraged to fatten up those piggies with loose change and return them to AFAN in commemoration of World AIDS Day, observed on December 1st each year. Some came back heavier than others–Donny tipped the scales with a whopping $1000 in his belly–but in the end they all brought home plenty of bacon. All donations went to support AFAN’s continual fight against HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.
Mac King’s Magical Literacy Tour
Mac King might be best known for tickling funny bones with humor and magic as a headliner at Harrah’s, but lately he’s been busy mastering a different sort of trick; fostering a love of reading in the community through his Magical Literacy Tour.
The tour launched in February at the Orleans Arena, where fans of the Wranglers hockey team were invited to bring donations of new and gently-used books to the games. After all was said and done, the event raised more than 800 books that were donated to Clark County READS, an initiative of the Public Education Foundation.
King’s ultimate goal is to promote childhood literacy and provide more opportunities for children. “Reading is very important to me because it literally changed my life,” said King. “I want every child to have the same opportunity and explore new worlds and ideas through the magic of reading.” The Orleans Arena was but one stop on the literacy tour. During Nevada Reading Week he’s stopping at four at-risk elementary schools in Las Vegas to deliver the books that were collected. Ta-daaaa! For more info, visit www.mackingshow.com or www.ccpef.org.
