Grants to aid 4 local nonprofit groups

Tuesday, July 2, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Four local nonprofit groups have received a combined $15.8 million to construct new facilities.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, endowed by the late media mogul, announced the grants Monday.

How the grants were distributed:

* $4.5 million to KNPR 89.5-FM, Southern Nevada's public radio station, which will construct and move into a new facility next year.

The 16,000-square-foot broadcast center will be on the West Charleston Boulevard campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Included in the building plans are a 1,000-square-foot performance studio for music recording, an expanded main studio and Radio Reading Service facilities and a student production area designed exclusively for training.

Included in the Reynolds Foundation grant is money for new digital equipment. A satellite uplink will allow KNPR to distribute programming nationally.

"This extraordinary financial assistance from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation recognizes KNPR's central role in the cultural and educational life of our community," said Lamar Marchese, president and general manager of the station.

On the air since 1980, KNPR provides National Public Radio news and classical music 24 hours a day. Through a network of translators and associate stations, it serves the southern half of Nevada and adjacent areas of California, Arizona and Utah.

* $3.2 million to the Assistance League of Las Vegas, which plans to use to build a chapter facility and thrift shop.

The Assistance League of Las Vegas is one of 98 chapters nationwide. It has 254 members who volunteer their time. There is no paid staff. All money raised is returned to the community through philanthropic projects.

The league plans to build its new facility at West Charleston Boulevard and Scholl Drive, just west of Rainbow Boulevard, said spokeswoman Kathy Klinkner.

The group supports five local projects to supply clothing to needy and homeless children; provide teddy bears to comfort children traumatized by fire, accident or domestic violence; use puppets to educate elementary schoolchildren about issues; provide appropriate clothing to assist single parents in their return to the workplace; and provide toiletries and basic garments to victims of assault.

* $3.6 million to Nevada Dance Theatre, which will construct a building in Summerlin. The building will consolidate the theater's operations, now housed in three locations throughout Las Vegas.

* $4.5 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs for a 40,000-square-foot facility in Green Valley area of Henderson. The new building will have three basketball courts, a game room and a teen center.

The Reynolds Foundation, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., was created and endowed by the late media mogul Donald Reynolds. It provides grants for major construction and renovation projects to nonprofit groups in Nevada, Arkansas and Oklahoma.