Agassi, DA to be honored with Louie Awards

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 8:51 a.m.

The 18 Society Foundation will honor several prominent Nevadans at its second annual Louie Awards Saturday at the MGM Grand Convention Center.

The nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of families, children and seniors will present the Citizen of the Year Award to Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell and the Young Leadership award to Andre Agassi.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to University Regent Thalia Dondero; Ann Lynch, vice president of community services for Sunrise Hospital; and former Clark High School Principal Wayne Tanaka, who will become the first principal of the Agassi charter school for at-risk children. Mordechai Yerushalmi, president of The Jewelers, and Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada also will be recognized for their charitable contributions.

Entertainment will be provided by Paige O'Hara, who was the voice of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," and Michael Piontek, who portrayed Raoul in the Los Angeles production of "Phantom of the Opera." The couple is married and lives in Las Vegas.

The Louie Awards are named for the late Louis Wiener Jr., a prominent attorney and businessman.

The 18 Society Foundation supports the arts, sciences and education and other charitable endeavors that benefit the community. Its two main projects are helping students attend college and an annual Salute to Seniors event.

The foundation has established a community partnership with the Clark County School District to offer free services to high school students in selecting the proper college and in finding scholarships and other aid.

The Salute to Seniors event in April highlights services and resources.

The foundation also assists other nonprofit organizations to provide programs beneficial to the community such as adult day care art supplies and senior pet adoptions.

For information on Saturday's awards event, call 898-0000.