Public supporting local charities in wake of attacks

Angela Soo

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2001 | 9:52 a.m.

Local charities are trying to conduct their fund-raising business as usual, despite a diversion of donations to relief efforts in New York and Washington after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Although some charities have reported a substantial loss in the amount of donations they received since the terrorist attacks, others are holding strong and thankful for all contributions that funnel their way.

Deann Cline, a campaign manager for the annual Light the Night Walk, raised almost $20,000 last week for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year's walk brought in about $11,000, Cline said.

"We're just grateful that people came out, considering everything that was going on," Cline said.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society aims to find a cure for blood-related cancers. It will hold a free concert Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to noon at Planet Hollywood in Caesars Palace. T-shirts and commemorative CDs will be available for a $10 donation.

Over the weekend the sixth Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children raised more than $4.2 million for at-risk children. More than 6,300 fans attended the event, which included performances by Don Henley, Elton John, and surprise appearances by Robin Williams and Stevie Wonder.

The last event held in 1999 raised $3.9 million for charities under the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation. All proceeds benefit children of the local community.

"Each year I'm amazed and delighted by the level of support that the Grand Slam for Children receives from the Las Vegas community and entertainment industry," Agassi said. "It is satisfying to know that the money we raised will directly benefit those children who require our immediate assistance."

A fund-raising event for Trooper Bobby Kintzel of the Nevada Highway Patrol also took place over the weekend at the Orleans. The family raised $21,325 to help pay Kintzel's medical expenses.

Kintzel suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck in April by a fleeing motorist who was going about 85 to 90 mph.

The Sunrise Children's Foundation, which does not receive funding from the Sunrise Children's Hospital, pre-sold more than 100 tickets at $60 a piece to its "All That Jazz" benefit, scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Canyon Gate Country Club near Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Road.

The event originally was scheduled for the day after the terrorist attacks, but the founder of the children's foundation, Dee Ladd, decided to postpone it.

"It just wasn't possible for me to go through with it, let alone expect other people to attend," Ladd said. "But all of the people except three who RSVP'd to the original date have already said they would come on Wednesday. We actually have more people attending now, because some couldn't make the original date."

The event will feature artist Jim Stallings, who is also known as the "painter to the symphonies." Stallings interprets music through his artwork. He will paint several original pieces while listening to music and auction the paintings. Proceeds will go toward programs for children.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a Memphis-based research center dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic childhood diseases, canceled its third annual Las Vegas Gala and Golf Tournament scheduled for Oct. 13 at the Suncoast hotel and Badlands Golf Course.

"We made a necessary decision at this point in time to postpone our event until next year," said Bob Sidell, co-chairman of the event.

The fate of other community benefits remains to be seen within the next couple of weeks.

The city of Henderson will hold its second annual Super Run from Thursday through Sunday to benefit local charities, including the Henderson Boys and Girls Club and Allied Community Advocates. Vintage autos and classic hot rods will cruise downtown Water Street between Victory Road and Ocean Avenue.

A separate live auction for the relief effort will be held 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Staz's American Motorcycles at Lake Mead Drive and Water Street.

"This event will once again direct much needed funding to local charities, in addition to reaching across to our fellow Americans affected by this national tragedy," Henderson Councilman Andy Hafen said.

The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is scheduled to hold its only annual fund-raiser 6 p.m on Nov. 10 at the Four Seasons hotel to raise money for providing adequate facilities for single fathers and their children.

Meanwhile, community efforts to help out the people who were recently laid off continue to grow.

The Family Services Department of the Salvation Army urges residents to contribute as soon as possible for local relief efforts. Donations would go to supplying gas vouchers, bus tokens, utility assistance, food boxes and clothing for the families affected by layoffs that have followed the attacks.

Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army Development Department, P.O. Box 28369, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

"We need the citizens of Las Vegas to help and be as generous as possible at this time," Charles Desiderio, director of development and marketing, said.

Residents, patients and employees of Southern Nevada Kindred Healthcare are teaming up to host an ongoing non-perishable food drive that would benefit local food banks.

Three locations will accept the food items from Wednesday through Oct. 30. For more information, call 735-5848.

The YMCA of Southern Nevada pledged its support by offering free YMCA family memberships to thousands of laid-off workers.

"Losing your job can leave you frustrated, and really be a blow to your self-confidence," Mike Lubbe, president and CEO of YMCA Southern Nevada, said.

The Venetian Hotel's Club C2K is holding a food drive from Oct. 5 through 7 and Oct. 10 through 12 to help replenish the food pantry at Catholic Charities.

In addition to the growing number of community efforts that attempt to meet an expected demand from out-of-work employees, the number of local businesses wanting to raise money for attack victims also continues to grow.

* MDC Holdings Inc., which oversees the Richmond American Homes subsidiary in Las Vegas, has announced it will make a $1 million donation to a relief fund for victims of terrorism, including families and rescue workers.

* Rite Aid Corp., which operates more than two dozen stores in the Las Vegas Valley, has raised more than $750,000 nationwide for the victims.

* The Silverton hotel and Clear Channel Radio have announced that a portion of funds raised through the "World's Greatest Yard Sale IV" will go to the same cause. The event is set for Oct. 13 at resort on Blue Diamond Road, three miles south of The Strip.

* The Asian Chamber of Commerce presented a $7,500 check to the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada last week.

* Cafe International, 6346 S. Pecos Road, near Sunset, is donating 20 percent of its proceeds 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Sun reporter Ed Koch contributed to this story.