Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998 | 10:08 a.m.
Helping the less fortunate is a tradition among leading Southern Nevada firms, and often these heroes go unrecognized in the flurry of our lives. Reaching out to help others in generous fashion recently were 7-Eleven convenience stores, which donated 5,000 sandwiches to the Salvation Army.
The heat-and-eat sandwiches were transported to the Salvation Army by EA Sween, Southland Corporation's distribution partner, with the help of the Las Vegas Food Chain and LSG Skychef, Southland's fresh sandwich vendor. "Once we realized there was a surplus of product, we looked immediately for a worthwhile cause in our community that could benefit," Carmen Gigra, Southwest division food merchandiser for Southland Corporation, said.
Stepping up to bat as well to assist in the care and feeding of the local needy are Nextlink Nevada and the Lewis Homes companies, which have kicked-off their second annual effort to collect canned food and personal care items for the Salvation Army. SHARE '98 is a valley-wide project designed to help feed and care for thousands of individuals and families served by the Salvation Army in Southern Nevada. SHARE (Start Having A Real Effect) continues through Nov. 15.
Lewis Homes and Nextlink will collect goods in specially marked containers placed at more than 20 Southern Nevada locations, including all Lewis Homes sales centers and Nextlink offices. Speaking of his company's decision to go forth with this worthy effort, builder Robert Lewis said, "We realized that there is a need for donations all year long and not just during the holidays."
The goal of SHARE is to provide as much canned food and personal care items as possible to bridge the many needs of the Salvation Army clients through the Boy Scouts' annual Food Drive in mid-November and the start of the holiday season. Clark Peterson, general manager of Nextlink Nevada, arranged for the local telecommunications company to use its fleet of vans to pick up donations and deliver them direct to the Salvation Army, at 35 W. Owens Ave.
Officials from the Salvation Army explained that the most useful food items are non-perishable and include: canned meats such as tuna or Spam, macaroni and cheese, hot cereal, beans, peanut butter and baby food. Personal care items high on the wish list include: shaving cream and razors, deodorant, hand lotion, combs, soap, shampoo and toothpaste. For additional information, please call the SHARE Hotline at 99-SHARE.
Moo-vers and shakers
Ever wonder about those black and white buses seen about town? The C.O.W. (Classrooms on Wheels) program provides free preschool education to Nevada children ages 3-5 who have no other opportunity to attend preschool because of the economic conditions of their families.
The mobile classrooms bring early education directly to the neighborhood, meeting with children and their families weekly for 2rac/2-hour sessions. The buses -- complete with educational toys, a lending library and preschool teaching materials -- help children develop the skills necessary for learning readiness and future success in school. Parents are provided with information for taking the learning process into the home and setting patterns for their children's school years.
Founded in 1993 by director Louise Helton, C.O.W. has seven buses serving urban neighborhoods in Henderson and Las Vegas, and recently expanded to rural Overton and Logandale. By 1999, with the help of funding from the Nevada Legislature, the program will have a dozen buses operating in Southern Nevada. Program partner with C.O.W. are Computers on Wheels, which assists in vocational training for the parents of its young clients, and Clinic on Wheels, which serves the primary medical needs of these disadvantaged children. (The clinic program is a collaboration with the Community College of Southern Nevada, St. Rose Dominican Hospital and the University of Nevada School of Medicine at UMC.)
Fund-raising efforts for C.O.W. took on an appropriately "legend-dairy" turn with it second annual evening in The Grove at Silk Purse Ranch. "Amooosements" were many as the denim-clad crowd was welcomed by dinner committee members Colleen Griego, C.O.W. President Jacques Matthews, Angela Pernatizzi, Michelle Videiri and Zi Mu Sorority volunteers. During the cocktail hour, many toured the fleet of buses and applauded the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the newest C.O.W. bus, a generous gift from the Leadership Las Vegas class of 1997, which several years ago adopted C.O.W. as its ongoing community project.
Present for the festivities were: Debra Thompson, president of the Leadership Las Vegas class, as well as Lucy Ross, Dawn Davidson, Dominique Turner, Jerry and Lou Emmert and Dr. Patty Craddock. Sue Robinson, of the CCSN Dental Technician program, chaired the silent auction, which featured an acoustic guitar signed by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, as well as dinners at Hugo's Cellar, sports collectibles and golf packages. Bidding was brisk and continued through dinner with David Matthews, Dick and Pam Treault, Jil Flores, Rex and Sandy Windom, State Sen. Ray Rawson, Blake Odgen, Chip and Sidra Kain, Lillian and Tom Hickey, and Nancy Leslie part of the crowd participating.
Corporate guests from Sierra Health included: Charlene Herst and her daughter, Shelley, Helena Brus, Cindy Earnest, Marge Wyatt, Barbara Grostick, Rob Engelman and Amy and Rosemary Flores. Seen visiting with friends during the western-style supper were Sen. Richard and Bonnie Bryan, Shirley Guinn, Carolyn Stewart Anderson and Jeri Wallis, as well as Sidney Hendrickson, Peter Feeney, Mitzie Hiegel and Rhonda Wolff representing Zi Mu Sorority-Beta Sigma Phi chapter. The program, emceed by Gary Waddell and Paula Francis of Channel 8, included a video overview of C.O.W. and warm thanks from founder-director Louise Helton.
Sport stars and students
A real family affair that benefited the children of our community, the recent Goals for Kids dinner at the All-Star Cafe brought together team members, their coaches and supportive business leaders, and participating sponsors with their families.
This year, each time the Las Vegas Thunder hockey team scores a goal, dollars are generated for the Clark County Public Education Foundation. Proceeds support educational improvement Impact Grants, which allow teachers and support staff to try new ideas and share successful teaching techniques. Sponsors sign up to celebrate each Thunder goal with a donation of $1 or more, with pledges made for the entire season. By participating in the program, each sponsor will see their name (or company name) in lights and be recognized in Clark County Public Education Foundation literature.
Celebrating its eighth year, Goals for Kids is a splendid illustration of how sports and education can be positive partners. In creating a bridge between kids and their schools, the Las Vegas Thunder has helped to raise more than $400,000 to directly benefit classroom programs and teacher innovations. In addition, the team participates at schools, and made more than 75 classroom visits this year.
The dinner at the All-Star Cafe was generously underwritten by the restaurant with the supportive efforts of manager Cyndy Faulk. Las Vegas Thunder general manager Bob Strum attended with his daughter, Brianna, a communications major at UNLV who recently transferred her studies from Canada. Guests -- among them David Jones, Dave Hegna, Shain Reed, Christian Kolberg, Chandra Cook, Bill and Mary Kellar, Randy Pagett and Keith Mantis -- were assigned seats at tables hosted by Thunder players including newcomer Brian Mehalko, Patrice LeFebrve and Trevor Roenick. School Board President Shirley Braeger and Superintendent Brian Cram were among those seen with players who were later introduced to the audience by the lovable Boom-Boom, the Thunder's huge polar bear mascot.
Others enjoying the casual evening were: Dave Meador, David Griego, Karlene Lee, Jim and Toni Manning, Brad Nelson and Tony Gladney of the MGM Grand Resort, as well as Clark County Public Education Director Judi Steele. Present as well was Deb Hegna, who chaired the evening, along with continuing supporters Marianne and Joe Lanutti, Eric and Eileen Nelson, Karen Erickson with Barbara Michalko, Trish Cain and young fans Carissa Alicea, Ryan Sax and Lyndsey Cook, to name just a few.
archive
