Wednesday, April 17, 2002 | 8:19 a.m.
Founded in 1983, the Nevada Law Foundation was formed to address the significant need for funding of legal services to the poor and legally disadvantaged of our state. As a result, Nevada Supreme Court rules were adopted to allow interest to be earned on lawyers' trust accounts and to allow the funds to be used to meet the needs of the less fortunate.
These funds are further supplemented by the donation of legal services and money from supportive businesses, individuals and attorneys. In speaking of the organization's efforts in 2001, Rich Myers, chairman of the Nevada Law Foundation's Board of Trustees, reported its efforts to provide funds for 15 organizations and programs that provided various legal services and advocacy, assisting some 30,000 impoverished and disadvantaged Nevadans.
These services included temporary protection orders, assignment of court-appointed special advocates for children, administration of programs designed to better educate citizens and counsel abused women and children.
Further efforts to fund these far-reaching endeavors are derived from the Nevada Law Foundation's annual Silver Ball. Held at Four Seasons, this year's gala was co-chaired by Marilyn and John Moran with honorary co-chairs Gov. Kenny Guinn and his wife, Dema.
A sparkling event, the evening opened with a champagne reception attended by Pete and Liz Gibson, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Miriam Shearing and her husband, Dr. Stephen Shearing, Ralph and Sara Denton with their son and daughter-in-law, District Judge Mark Denton and wife Alice, as well as foundation board trustee Dr. Ellerton and his wife, Marie Ellerton.
In the black-tie crowd were Fran Fine, John and Dottie Wanderer, Nancy Allf and husband Dave Thomas, Sonny and Christine McDoniel, Gloria Sturman, Lynn Shoen, John Curtas and Judge Valorie Vega and husband Howard Stutz. Attorney Mace Yampolsky, a gifted pianist, provided the elegant music enjoyed prior to dinner.
The program, coordinated by Suzan Baucum, executive director, centered on the 12 Nevadans recognized as exceptional attorneys and judges who further the work of the Nevada Law Foundation. Presenting the Colleague Awards on behalf of the foundation was Nevada's Chief Justice William Maupin, who introduced honorees Judge Michael L. Douglas and Judge Mark Gibbons, followed by attorneys William Coulthard, John D. Jones, Jill M. Lynne, Ann Price McCarthy, Michael R. Mushkin, Nicholas Santoro, Matthew Sharp, David Spurlock, Gerald Welt and Timothy C. Williams.
Recognized as well was businessman James Kimsey, a founding member of the Friends of the Foundation. Present for the ceremonies were Lillian Sondgeroth, Dennis and Nina Gallagher, Susan and Michael Kotrinsky, Carolyne Myers, Lamar Brown with Ammy Probancha and Judges Lee Gates and Michael Cherry.
For kid's sake
Headquartered in Las Vegas, KidsCharities.org is a nonprofit, Internet-based organization that serves as an umbrella for a multitude of productive children's charities, including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Chances for Children, Special Olympics and City of Hope.
Founder Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, a Las Vegas resident, is proud to explain her organization has distributed approximately $290,000 to 30 charities in just two years. The funds have benefited emergency and medical care for children around the globe, in addition to impacting programs fostering the fine arts, the environment and education for children in our community.
Thinking creatively, kidscharities.org's online auctions, sponsored by Internet search engine Yahoo!, have included Valentine's Day events made possible by Ethel M Chocolates, which contributed velvet heart-shaped boxes of chocolates autographed by such stars as Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson, Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, David Cassidy and others. Equally successful have been events including the annual David Cassidy Celebrity Golf Tournaments, Totally Groovy Polyester Ball, the Desert Passage Mystery Tour at Aladdin and, most recently in New York City, the Sotheby's Night of Miracles, which included the sale of the original Santa Claus suit from "Miracle on 34th Street," donated by Las Vegas-based americabilia.com.
Recently the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place, with General Manager Brad Millsap, provided support by hosting an elegant luncheon for Las Vegas contributors and charitable recipients. The occasion, marking the charity's two-year anniversary, was enlivened by the presence of Shifrin-Cassidy and her husband, David Cassidy, who serves as the organization's spokesman. With the Cassidys were KidsCharities.org board trustees Sandy and Roger Peltyn, who have chaired local efforts on behalf of the charity.
Included in the gathering were Rose Dominguez, Dawn Merritt, David Griego, Whitney Thier, Cindy Wirth, Julie Murray, Sloane Arnold, Nancy Arrington, Mandy Elliot and Mercedes Warrick.
Local charities receiving funds during luncheon ceremonies were Special Olympics of Nevada, City of Hope, Emerging Artists Fund and the Mike Maddux Foundation. Listening attentively to the program were guests including Fleeta Goldstein, Rob Wilner, Barbara Silver, Robyn Hadden, Linda Crane, Eric Polis, Cynthia Dunn, Melanie Van Burch and Judy Fleischman.
Ongoing efforts to help children through online auctions and announcements of special events are available at kidscharities.org. The 4th Annual David Cassidy Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament will be held in association with the EAT'M Conference beginning May 28 in Las Vegas, with proceeds to benefit Las Vegas children.
Author speaks
Successful beyond expectation in its first year, The Literary Society-Las Vegas hosted its April authors' luncheon at Four Seasons. In the spotlight was Professor Debora Silverman of UCLA, author of "Van Gogh and Gaugin: The Search for Sacred Art" (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2000).
Ten years in the writing, this weighty book, chronicling the similarities and contrasts of the artists and their work, is both a joy to the eye and an insightful read about the dynamics of the art world.
Prior to Silverman's luncheon speech to members and guests, she met informally with budding writers and their instructors from area high schools. These special round-table sessions, integral to the organization's goal to encourage young writers and the love of literature, are made possible by the sponsorship of Patrick Everett, president-CEO of the Northern Trust Bank, the organizational sponsors of The Literary Society-Las Vegas.
Supporting this worthy event was Patrick Chapin, president of the KNPR 89.5-FM board, who spoke informally of the station's plans to expand broadcast choices for our community. Present as well were Sandee Tiberti, Tina Smith, Mary Whittaker, Karen Allison, Pat Campbell, Joyce Straus and Nancy Wong, in addition to Lois Pete, Dr. Joe McCullough, Meriliee Everett, Laurel Andrew, Marilyn LaRocque, Cam Fehrenbach and Sandra Avants with Eileen Neuman.
S.A.F.E. benefit
An Evening of Peace, a benefit event to assist with the work of S.A.F.E. House of Henderson, will be held Saturday at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas Resort.
Founded in 1994 to meet the needs of domestic-violence victims, the group operates a 52-bed shelter for women and their children. Services include community education and outreach efforts, therapy for women and children, a comprehensive advocacy program and transitional support services. Last year S.A.F.E. House serviced 4,430 clients.
An Evening of Peace, a dinner-dance and program, will recognize the efforts of The Michael O'Bannon Foundation, USAA Savings Bank and Canac Kitchens of Las Vegas. For all the details and reservations contact S.A.F.E. House at 451-4203.
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