Through its literacy program, Reading is The Way Up, City National Bank and Barnes & Noble donated more than $25,000 in new books and cash to the Assistance League Las Vegas and its Operation School program as part of the eighth annual Holiday Book Drive.
Since the inception of City National’s literacy program in 2002, the bank has donated more than 400,000 new books to schools and nonprofit groups, and over $1 million in literacy grants.
This cycle, City National Bank has awarded 112 literacy grants, totaling more than $103,000, to support literacy-based projects as well as financial literacy to elementary, middle and high schools in Nevada, California, New York and Georgia.
Local recipients are Roundy Elementary, Las Vegas, for the project Kinder Daily 5 Reading activities, budget $1,000; Herron Elementary, North Las Vegas, Refreshing the Wimpy Kid, budget $500; Harmon Elementary School, Las Vegas, Parent, Teacher, Student Book Club, budget $1,000; Batterman Elementary, Las Vegas, ABC Countdown, budget $500; Antonello Elementary, North Las Vegas, Financial Literacy, budget $1,500; Fertitta Middle School, Las Vegas, Vex Robotics, budget $1,500; Bowler Elementary, Bunkerville, Getting Ready for the Future, budget $500; Hughes Middle School, Mesquite, The Search for Identity Literature Circles, budget $1,000.
Students in Young Artists’ Concerto Competition awarded
The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cox Communications presented checks to the winner, Kelsea Au, and runner-up, Erika Dalton, of the 2015 Cox Communications Young Artists’ Concerto Competition at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center on March 5.
The competition took place in October at the College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus. Stephanie Stallworth, Cox Communications’ public and community relations director and Las Vegas Philharmonic President and CEO Jeri Crawford, presented the checks to the students onstage before the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s concert.
Au received a $2,000 cash prize and had the opportunity to perform as soloist in all 10 performances of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Youth Concert Series in November and January. Dalton received a $1,000 in cash to use toward her music education.
The competition has been a key component of the orchestra’s education and community outreach since 1999. The Las Vegas Philharmonic’s free annual Youth Concert Series has reached 180,000 school children.
Barbecue event to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs
The Nevada Barbecue Association will present the second annual Las Vegas Championship RibFest 2016 June 4 at Bass Pro Shop-Outdoor World. A portion of all ticket and sample sales will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.
The event, running from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. is open to the public. Competitors and vendors will provide barbecue items including rib plates, pulled pork sandwiches and brisket dinners. Admission and parking are free with sample ticket packages for sale on-site.
For information on becoming a sponsor, visit nvbbq.org or email Barry Greer at barrysgr@gmail.com.
Executive chefs to collaborate on menu
Create a Change Now and the Reset Project enlisted some of Las Vegas’ top executive chefs to design a special menu for its Inspire.Challenge.Engage dinner March 10 at Booker Elementary School.
The dinner was be the first of three partnered events. The event featured Chef de Cuisine Scott Pajak of Emeril’s Lagasse’s Stadium, Executive Chef Marty Lopez of 35 Steaks + Martinis and chef Johnny Church of Artisanal Foods.
The family-style dinner featured harvested produce from Booker Elementary’s edible desert garden as well as crops from local farms.
AIDS Walk returns for 26th year
Aid for AIDS of Nevada will host the 26th Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas at 8 a.m. April 17 at Town Square. More than 6,000 people walked last year, raising more than $400,000 to benefit services supporting more than 3,000 clients living with or affected by HIV. Penn and Teller will serve as grand marshals for the 15th consecutive year. Registration is free.
Tronox donates to school garden club
Tronox, a Henderson manufacturing plant, donated $2,000 to support Sewell Elementary School’s student garden club. This donation will help purchase supplies for the garden, including soil and seedlings for crops. Tronox employees will also help construct a vertical garden to maximize use of the space and yield more produce.
The club teaches students about ecology, water and life cycles, also all aspects of gardening, from planting to tending to harvesting.
Tronox also donated two compressed gas cylinders to the Henderson Fire Department for training purposes.
Tronox employees at the Henderson site use similar vessels to demonstrate and practice methods for emergency response on different types of cylinders. The cylinders will be used at the Henderson Fire Department’s main training center for new recruits and continued education purposes.
Fremont Street Experience donates more than $145,000
Fremont Street Experience has donated $145,368 through 12 different SlotZilla Charity Challenges.
Local charities are chosen to partner with SlotZilla on a specific day, and 100 percent of SlotZilla revenue from flights on the lower Zipline or upper Zoomline is donated to that charity.
Fremont Street Experience challenged the charities to raise the most amount of money through their databases, media partners and social media.
The first SlotZilla Charity Challenge started Oct. 30, 2014, with Susan G. Komen of Southern Nevada. Other charity partners have included American Heart Association, Opportunity Village, Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Three Square, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Race for Hope and Fun Walk returns for seventh year
Grant A Gift Autism Foundation is presenting the seventh annual Race for Hope and Fun Walk to support those affected by autism living in Nevada. The event includes a Kidz Run, 5K Timed Run and 5K Fun Walk.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. April 30 at Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Opening ceremony will be at 8 a.m. Entertainment runs 10 a.m.-noon.
Registration is available online through April 28 at grantagiftfoundation.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available by calling 702-564-2453 or by emailing 5K@grantagiftautismfoundation.org.
Global Gaming Women launches to support female leaders in gaming
Global Gaming Women, which began in 2011 with the American Gaming Association as a development program to nurture emerging female leaders in the gaming industry, has launched as an independent charitable organization.
Its 2016 initiatives include providing scholarships to more than 100 women to attend Global Gaming Women leadership development conferences in the East Coast, Midwest and Southern gaming markets, as well as the MGM Women’s Leadership Conference; launching 10 mentoring circles at gaming companies across the country; establishing a career advisory board and dedicated mentors for Global Gaming Women program graduates; expanding the W Development Conference to include an alumni conference and the introduction of a public speaking coaching program; and participating in programs, panels and networking events at major conferences.
Companies making founding commitments to fund include MGM Resorts International, Seminole Gaming, American Gaming Association, Pinnacle Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment Corp., Scientific Games, Rush Street Gaming, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc, Penn National Gaming, Station Casinos Inc., Boyd Gaming Corp., International Game Technology and Paragon Gaming.
A great cause is right up this alley
The third annual Hospitality Bowling Tournament will run June 22 at The Orleans, with proceeds benefiting the Shade Tree.
The Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association and the Nevada Restaurant Association will again partner to present this event. For more information or to sign up, visit nvhotels.com/events