Interfaith Center honors founders

Stacy J. Willis

Wednesday, April 12, 2000 | 10:01 a.m.

From its conception 25 years ago the UNLV Interfaith Student Center has been about forging alliances between faiths.

Catholics donated land for the center. Jewish community members spearheaded fund-raising efforts to finance the building. Protestants shepherded the development of a program that would, 25 years later, still be offering fellowship and worship for UNLV students of a variety of faiths.

Thursday night some of the Interfaith Student Center's founders will be recognized at the Annual Night of Honor.

Jake Von Tobel, the Rev. Jerome Blankinship, Irwin Molasky and Al Benedict will be honored at 5:30 at the center at 4765 Brussels Road.

The late Jake Von Tobel, a Roman Catholic who was a son of pioneer Las Vegan Ed Von Tobel and who operated the family's lumber and hardware business for many years, donated nearly 3.5 acres to the Reno-Las Vegas Catholic Diocese for religious student programs.

The Diocese, under the leadership of the late Bishop Joseph Green, decided to share the land with other religions for a multifaith student center.

Blankinship, then pastor of University United Methodist Church, was asked to help organize plans to develop the center as an ecumenical student meeting place.

Benedict, a Jewish businessman and former executive at the Sands and MGM Grand, lobbied casino owners to contribute to the interfaith effort and raised thousands to help fund construction of the building.

Molasky, a longtime Jewish developer, also contributed to funding the project. Eventually, the group raised more than $250,000 to build the center in 1975.

"We have a wonderful history of interfaith cooperation, and we're really looking forward to celebrating it," said Teri Wyum, Interfaith Student Center coordinator.

Tickets for the annual Night of Honor are $25. For more information, call 736-0887.