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Meet Your Neighbor: Stephanie A. MacKenzie
By Callie Thomas
She’s bright, bubbly and has a killer voice that wakes up listeners every weekday morning on 97.1 The Point. She’s Stephanie (Steph) MacKenzie, 89148 neighbor and half of the morning show duo known as Foxx and MacKenzie. You’ll find our favorite rocker girl within the community hosting and emceeing station events, but she can also be found at the heart of dozens of charitable causes that help those in need.
Steph has a need…for speed. The huge sports fan (particularly the Oakland Raiders) is also an avid motorcycle enthusiast as well as the dedicated local spokesperson for the Speedway Children’s Charities organization. Getting involved was a quick decision. Helping others has been an important part of MacKenzie’s life from the time she was a child herself. “As a little girl I volunteered at nursing homes. When I was in a sorority in college we had to be involved with activities outside of school that would help the community, and I just loved it.”
The Las Vegas chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities has since distributed more than $1.7 million in funding to an unending list of children’s organizations in Southern Nevada. Funding is raised through special events held during the year and includes the NASCAR Driver Auction, Mel Larson Night of Champions, Golf Tournament, NHRA ‘Cards for Kids’ Poker Tournament and WNFR Celebrity Bowling Tournament. “My involvement came out of my love for NASCAR and witnessing what the drivers, owners and the NASCAR family does in Vegas for local children’s charities,” Stephanie said. “I was asked to emcee their Christmas event where they distribute the funds to all the charities. To see the kid’s eyes light up because their programs were going to continue was overwhelming.”
While MacKenzie is involved with a number of other organizations, including Ronald McDonald House, Best Buddies, Positively Kids, United Blood Service and Lied Animal Shelter to name just a few, one that is near to her heart is the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. “Ten years ago I embarked on an experience unlike anything I had ever known. I had never had a family member affected by cancer nor was it a threat to my family, but it was to friends and society. I saw a sisterhood of women from all walks of life and miracles that happened right before my eyes and knew I wanted to be a part of that magic.” She recruited everyone and anyone to come to the cancer walk and while they donated, not all wanted to walk for the fundraiser, so she created an event called “Save the Boobs” and got the motorcycle community involved. Thinking there was still more she could do, she paired local celebrities with the Hard Rock Café to create an event called “Pinktober.” “We were able to get local boutiques involved along with the local celebrities and cancer survivors for a night of fun and fashion while raising money,” Steph said.
The busy local celeb is also a Board Member at New Vista Ranch for their Annual Adam and Eve Charity Love Fling, an auction of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes to raise funds. The New Vista Ranch is a home for young adults with mental disabilities. The program helps to educate the public and show the community that these youth are able bodied workers and part of the community. “They have a love of life that is refreshing and makes you want to be a better person,” she said.
The little down time Stephanie MacKenzie has is spent with the love of her life, husband Brad, their two canine kids, Valkyrie and Dizel, and making a difference by giving back. “I hope to always lead by example and help change lives every time I’m out in the community.”
