Serving Your Community

Wednesday, June 10, 1998 | 11:19 a.m.

Benefits

* THE SOCIAL -- The Las Vegas Hilton, in conjunction with Southern Wine and Spirits, Battle Born Cigar Co., Lighten Up Cigar Radio and Smoke magazine, will hold "The Social," an evening of fine dining, cigars and spirits 7-10 p.m. Saturday in the Hilton Pavilion. The pavilion will be recreated with the flair of Old Havana, as an authentic 11-piece Cuban band and dancers entertain, along with a live jazz band reminiscent of a private club. A silent auction will be held to raise money for the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Tickets are $125 in advance or $150 the day of The Social. For tickets or more information, call 732-5755.

Getting Results

* RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE GRANT -- The Variety Club of Southern Nevada presented a check for $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House recently. Variety Club's pledge is to raise $10,000 annually for five years, for a total of $50,000 to be raised during its annual Radiothon on KFM 102-F.M. held Nov. 20-21 at the Meadows Mall. This is the second $10,000 award.

* UNITED WAY ALLOCATIONS -- United Way of Southern Nevada's volunteer board of directors approved the distribution of $4,256,000 to 122 programs in Southern Nevada. The allocations are for Fiscal Year 1998-99 and include funding for 19 programs that are new United Way-supported programs. For more information, call 734-8504.

* CMN TELETHON -- UMC's Childrens Miracle Network raised $548,774 locally at the annual CMN Telethon, which aired on KVVU Fox 5. The money was raised through a number of community fund-raising events and will stay in Nevada to purchase much-needed pediatric medical equipment. Last year's telethon raised $401,000. For more information about the Children's Miracle Network or about other fund-raising activities, call the UMC Foundation, 383-2326.

* MASH RECEIVES VAN -- The MASH Village Children Services Department has been donated a new van courtesy of the Fremont Street Experience. With seating for 16 children, it will be used to transport MASH residents to area events and educational field trips. The van will allow the Children Services Department to provide transportation for educational and recreational events they normally would not be able to attend.

* WALKING FOR MS -- Walkers raised $68,000 for the local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year's fund-raiser, held at the Hughes Center, was part of a national event that involved more than 300,000 walkers at 400 sites across the country. Locally, MGM Grand and "EFX" star David Cassidy served as the spokesman for the event.

Good sports

* MEDIA GOLF TOURNAMENT -- The Mount Charleston Alpine Village and Golf Resort will sponsor the first media golf tournament 9 a.m. July 11. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Nevada and Big Brothers Big Sisters. There is no initial cost for players. The media and their families are invited to escape the summer heat and enjoy a day of golf and recreation. In addition to golf, the outdoor ice skating rink and miniature golf course will be open for family members. Refreshments will be served and surprise activities for the children will take place all day. Following the tournament, there will be an awards ceremony and barbecue. If interested, notify Tom Letizia no later than Saturday, at 870-2362.

Honors

* ADVERTISING AWARDS -- The Las Vegas Advertising Federation will hold its annual awards ceremony 5 p.m. today, in the Voo Doo Lounge of the Rio Suite hotel-casino. The 1998 Silver Medal Award winner is Tony Bonnici, of Lotus Broadcasting, and the Hall of Fame Award recipient is Rich Newman, of RFN Productions. This year's presentations have been expanded to include the scholarship recipients of the federation's Students Training for Advertising Realities program. All high school students were invited to participate in this creative learning experience. Special certificates from the Boulevard Mall will be given to the five high school students who created and completed an outstanding community awareness campaign for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. Tickets are $18 for LVAF members and parents of STAR participants, and $24 for guests. For reservations, call 223-9900.

* JOHN C. MOWBRAY AWARD -- The John C. Mowbray Humanitarian Award was presented recently by John H. Mowbray on behalf of his mother and the family, to Rev. Fr. Francis Timoney, pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Fr. Timoney was chosen for his dedication to Nevada since 1969.

* TEACHER OF THE YEAR -- More than $5,000 worth of cash and prizes were awarded by the Alexis Park Resort and Spa to deserving teachers and students of Clark County. More than 1,000 entries were submitted for the essay contest. From these, 30 were chosen; 10 for each division: elementary, middle and high school. All students, their parents, teachers and guests were then invited to an awards banquet. The top winner was announced and presented with a gift from Alexis Park. The gifts included a $500 scholarship for the student author of the essay; a $500 donations to the winning teacher's school; and a $500 check for the teacher along with a three-day/two-night stay at Alexis Park. The elementary winners were Mr. Walk and Mackenzie Mack of Marion Cahlan Elementary. The middle-school winners were Mrs. Manning and seventh-grader Schadrey Bonds of J.D. Smith Middle School. The high school winners were Mr. Fullman and Nannina Agioni of Chaparral High.

* UNLV THEATRE PROGRAM -- The UNLV Department of Theatre Arts has been honored by Stage Directions magazine as one of "10 theater companies that have made a difference." UNLV was cited for its pioneering work in senior theater. A monthly national theater publication, Stage Directions, the editor's goal was to honor companies that have benefited those around them artistically, financially or by serving a special population.

* DONOR RECOGNITION -- U.S. Home, Las Vegas Division, has been recognized for its participation by donating time and materials for the construction of the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Las Vegas. Both the company and individual staff members participated in the project, donating both time and construction expertise and will be included in the Donor Recognition Book. Construction on the Ronald McDonald House is nearing completion and is scheduled to begin serving families of seriously ill children by July.

* CITIZEN OF THE MONTH -- At a recent City Council meeting, Councilman Michael J. McDonald recognized Frank Parone Sr., as the June "Citizen of the Month." Parone, a retired auto worker from Wisconsin, settled in Las Vegas 15 years ago. Since his retirement, Parone has spent his time volunteering as Santa Claus at local elementary schools, making holiday baskets for the community's needy and volunteering as a crossing guard at Howard Wasden Elementary School. Parone was selected as Parent of the Year in 1997 by the Clark County School District and is also the school PTA's first vice-president. With seven grandchildren, Parone also enjoys managing the Red Rock Little League Minor Mets baseball team. At Parone's suggestion, McDonald pursued the Adopt-A-Block program, which allows various community groups, businesses and organizations, as well as neighborhood associations, to adopt an area to monitor for graffiti, debris and overgrown vegetation.

Officers

* KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS -- The delegates of the Knights of Columbus-Nevada State Council have selected the following officers to head its State Council for one year: Macedonia "Curly" Iniquez, state deputy; Bruce Jarzen, state secretary; Richard Penndorf, state treasurer; Roland Encarnacion, state advocate; John Dube, state warden; and John Youngman, immediate past state deputy. The Knights are a Catholic men's group. They work on raising money for special Olympics, bishops seminary drive, lifeline, Catholic charities and for the two dioceses in Nevada. For information about the Knights, call 397-9312.

Special needs

* SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM -- The Upward Bound office at UNLV is currently accepting applications for a summer nutrition program for teenagers. Registration for the program is today and Thursday. The summer food program, which runs Sunday through Aug. 10, provides a balanced breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks for each student at no cost. Presentations on academic subjects, drug education and career opportunities will be offered, as well as field trips. The program is sponsored by the state Department of Education. For more information, call 895-4777.

* HENDERSON SALVATION ARMY -- The Henderson Salvation Army is in dire need of food supplies for its operation. The Henderson Salvation Army has a lack of sites where the public can drop off food donations and its staff is stretched thin running around town picking up donations. To help, Del Webb offered the Desert Willow Community Center, Sun City MacDonald Ranch, 2020 Horizon Ridge Parkway, as a public drop-off site. Easily stored, primarily boxed and canned food are preferred. Anyone interested in helping out can drop off donations at the front desk of the Desert Willow Community Center.

* SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM -- The City of Las Vegas Housing Authority, in conjunction with the Southern Nevada Joint Management Culinary & Bartenders Training Fund, have announced their inaugural corporate sponsorship program. The Housing Authority, which provides housing to members of the community who may not qualify for conventional housing, has committed to assisting its residents move from welfare to work. Part of this commitment they share with the community, in particular local businesses, and are seeking support with their sponsorship program. Mark Solomon, executive director of the Southern Nevada Joint Management Culinary & Bartenders Training Fund, has lent his support. If you wish to help, call the Housing Authority at 383-0135.

* BOXTOPS FOR CASH -- St. Jude's Ranch is now participating with General Mills, who have designed a program where popular cereals like Cheerios and Wheaties and products like Pop-Secret microwave popcorn, fruit snacks, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Golden Graham Treats, Sweet Rewards and Yoplait Yogurt proof of purchases are redeemed for cash. For every qualifying General Mills cereal boxtop, St. Jude's will receive 15 cents, and for every qualifying multipack or snack product boxtop, they will receive 10 cents. For more information on this program, or for a flyer or what boxtops to collect, call Joanne Jamros, 294-7122. The boxtops may be sent to: St. Jude's Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, NV 89005.

* ASTHMA CAMP -- Camp Superkids, a camp for children with asthma, sponsored by the American Lung Association of Nevada, will be Aug. 7-9. If you have a child with asthma who you would like to attend Camp Superkids, call 431-6333 for information.

Volunteers

* MDA SUMMER CAMP -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association is currently seeking applications from people who would like to volunteer for a week as counselors at the MDA summer camp. Volunteers act as companions to children and teenagers with neuromuscular diseases during the camp session, July 13-19. Counselors must be 16 years old, able to lift a child, push wheelchairs and assist with grooming, dressing and feeding. They will also help the children participate in activities including swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts and canoeing. For more information, call Craig Fabert at 739-7833.

* STUDENT HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS -- Are you a student considering a career in the health-care field? Or looking for something constructive to do this summer? Then Desert Springs Hospital may have the program for you. The hospital is recruiting high school and college students over the age of 15 who would like to volunteer at the hospital this summer. Students will be placed in many areas of the hospital, giving them an opportunity to learn about many aspects of healthcare. Students are required to complete an application, undergo a TB test and work a minimum of four hours a week. For more information, call 369-7782.

* RESCUE MISSION -- The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is in need of volunteers for its Mission Thrift Store. If you can volunteer, call Jesse Houston at 382-1766. The women's and children's shelter also is in need of large-size women's clothing and underclothes, razor blades, coffee, and children's clothing sizes 3-6.

* ROAD TO RECOVERY -- The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers to drive cancer patients to and from their cancer treatment centers. As part of the organization's Road to Recovery program, community volunteers are paired with cancer patients and provide as little as two to three hours of transportation per month. To volunteer, call 798-6857.

* FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS -- High school students from around the world are making preparations to arrive in the U.S. this August to embark on an educational youth exchange program with Academic Year in the USA International, a nonprofit high school exchange program. AYUSA is looking for a few good families to share their home and family by hosting these future world leaders. AYUSA provides cross-cultural, educational experiences for students, host families and their communities. Hosting opportunities are available locally. If you are interested in sharing the American lifestyle and values with an international student, call Orleen Sebesta (888) 626-6499.

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