Las Vegas Sands makes donation to help homeless children

By Brianna Santiago

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 | 12:45 p.m.

Summer can be a difficult season for anyone in the Las Vegas Valley. But for homeless youth, it’s particularly trying.

Beyond the dangers posed by high temperatures, the summer can mean a loss in the resources homeless kids depend on from their schools: a cool, safe place to spend the day, free lunch and a clear purpose, among others.

According to data from the Nevada Center on Family Homelessness, there are more than 20,000 homeless children living in Nevada. Nationally, about 75 percent of homeless youth have dropped out, or will drop out, of school.

On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced a $105,000 donation to help two local organizations better address homeless children’s needs during the summer.

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth plans to use its portion of the donation to provide better education services for the children it serves by purchasing books and computers and providing more college scholarships. STREET Teens will focus on expanding its drop-in center.

Zafra Figueroa became a part of an independent living program sponsored by the partnership when she was just 16.

“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” she said.

In the program, Figueroa was able to live in housing provided by the partnership while attending school. All of her expenses, including food, clothing and transportation, were covered.

She ended up graduating from Del Sol High School and is now studying at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. She’s expected to graduate in October.

“You are the face of our future,” NPHY Executive Director Arash Ghafoori told teens at an open house Tuesday at the drop-in center.