Community news briefs for December 29, 1999

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

Speedway Charities gives local groups $65,000

Local organizations Shade Tree, Safe Nest, New Directions, Candlelighters and Child Haven all received grants from the Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities this month.

The foundation awarded $65,000 total. It began its fund-raising efforts in March by offering rides with NASCAR Winston Cup drivers before the Las Vegas 400.

Other fund-raisers included the Clean Up Sam Campaign, in which Indy driver Sam Schmidt agreed to shave his sideburns if $3,000 were donated, and a Karting for Kids event.

Speedway Children's Charities is a nonprofit foundation based in Charlotte, N.C.

Free support groups meet for various diseases

The Muscular Dystrophy Association offers free local support groups to individuals and their families that are affected by any of 40 neuromuscular diseases.

A general support group meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Rehabilitation Hospital of Nevada, 1250 S. Valley View Blvd.

An Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis support group also meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Online services, including Ask the Experts, are featured at the website (www.mdausa.org).

For more information, call 822-6920.

New York-New York donates $180,000

New York-New York donated more than $180,000 in the past three years to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada.

A total of $130,000 was collected from the hotel's Central Park Pond. The remainder was collected at the hotel's initial fund-raiser for the foundation, an auction held in January 1997.

Music and parties planned this week

A 35-member volunteer choir from the Federal Bureau of Prisons at Nellis Air Force Base will entertain 6:30 tonight at the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd. inside the gym.

The Magical Forest is also sponsoring a First Night Las Vegas Friday 5 to 9 p.m. that includes party favors, masks, magicians and a countdown just before 9. Cost is $25 per person.

MountainView Hospital receives national honor

MountainView Hospital received the highest level of health accreditation in the nation this month.

MountainView, which opened in the northwest Las Vegas Valley in 1996, was awarded Accreditation with Commendation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations for meeting the nation's highest health care organization standards.

The Joint Commission completed an on-site survey of the hospital in April and called the quality of care offered "exemplary."

The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health care accrediting body, founded in 1951.

Club will host trip to Utah

United Social & Ski Club of Las Vegas is accepting reservations for a ski trip to Elk Meadows, Utah, Jan. 14-16.

The trip includes two nights lodging and two lift tickets for a total cost of $58. The club is a nonprofit, year-round social club. For more information, call 392-7669.