Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Foundation is going strong, say founders

Keith Resnick and his wife, Leslie, who co-founded the Lili Claire Foundation, discussed their organization's continued success and community support and introduced a few new faces at a Saturday reception.

The Resnicks, prominent members of the entertainment industry, lost their 5-month-old daughter, Lili Claire, to Williams syndrome in 1997. It is in her memory, and through the Resnicks' ongoing efforts and those of friends, that other children suffering from neurogenetic diseases will be served at the UNLV Life Skills Center.

Keith, in his informal speech, spoke of their first Las Vegas event just two years ago, a benefit performance by benefactor Danny Gans that funded the center's architectural and engineering fees. Another such fund-raiser featuring Hootie and the Blowfish paid for the concrete slab and utility installation, while most recently the star-studded gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, made possible the structure currently under construction near the UNLV main campus, on Twain Avenue and Paradise Road.

The center is expected to open in January 2004.

Held at Postrio at The Venetian, with the support of Tom Kaplan and fellow executives of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, the event also included the introduction of newly appointed Executive Director Tracy Elliot, along with Development Director Christine Chase, both key staff for the Life Skills Center.

Those seen in the crowd of benefactors were Linda and Gary Ackerman, Theresa and Michael Minden, Carelia Bauer, Christian Kolberg, Jennifer Bradley and Angie Gragson, to name just a few. Announced was "Helping Kids Fly Higher," planned for October at the Hard Rock Hotel. Specifics on the evening of entertainment are still being planned.

For more information on the Life Skills Center services, please call 604-6633.

Success story

Diabetes, both juvenile (type 1) and adult-onset (type 2), is a condition increasingly common in American families of all ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Each day in America diabetes kills one person every three minutes and brings life-threatening health concerns to the 17 million Americans who have it.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the largest research-intense group working to find a cure. Last week, to illustrate the strides made in this field, the Nevada Chapter of JDRF hosted Lisa Owens, who is considered cured of type 1 diabetes.

Owens, who took insulin for 21 years, is one of 300 adult patients worldwide who have undergone islet cell transplant, a procedure still at the experimental stage and restricted to adult patients. In speaking of this life-transforming cure, the young wife and mother explained how quickly her life improved following the surgery and brief hospital stay.

Owens, who lives in Oklahoma, was in our city to assist with plans for the 2003 Walk to Cure Diabetes event planned for Oct. 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Her luncheon speech was attended by scores of volunteers and corporate leaders who will help by forming teams, gathering families and asking for individuals of all ages to participate in this special Saturday walk.

Adding a dash of color and context to the Texas Station event were dragster owners Dave and Linda Nanook, whose company, Commercial Hardware, is a sponsor, along with Karla Shoup and Enida Olbrych of Medivision, Donna Gamble of the City of North Las Vegas with summer business intern Ivette Guitierrez, Michael Cunningham of Nevada State Bank, Marie Sarno and Lory Collins of Hilton Grand Vacations, Dan Ward of Manpower, Jack Burge of Sprint, Jeff Warnick of Fabulous Freddy's Car Wash and Meredith Hartstern of Harrah's Entertainment, to name just a few.

Brightly colored banners reflecting the many corporate sponsors adorned the ballroom and were used by JDRF chapter president Bill Houghton to illustrate the unity of community support. Marco Herrera, chairman of the Family Teams for the walk, and himself a diabetic, was joined at the podium by daughter Michelle, 12, who has type 1 diabetes. Earlier this year Michelle represented our community at the Children's Congress on Diabetes in Washington, D.C.

Assisting with the luncheon were many Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE), who distributed team and pledge materials to attendees. Jenny Houghton, wife of chapter president Bill Houghton, created the clever centerpieces with checkered race flags, toy race cars and the familiar sneakers, which are the symbols of this year's Walk to Cure Diabetes. Others attending included Dan Dykes, Paul Spiers with colleague Dionna Courtney, Mollie Miller, Mary Sexton, Geri Lee, Arvind Menon, Linda Kuhn and Nicole Lytle.

Artful fund-raiser

One of the most artful fund-raisers of the year will be National Adelson Hospice's ninth annual "Serenades of Life" concert at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6 in the Flamingo Library Theatre, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

This special evening of music showcases the talents of area physicians, members of the medical community and a kindly group of friends. All are volunteers, helping to raise awareness and funds for the hospice.

In its 25th year in Las Vegas, Nathan Adelson Hospice provides care and compassionate support for patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The hospice offers care to patients and their families without regard for age, nationality, gender, diagnosis or ability to pay.

Among the physicians appearing at "Serenades of Life" will be Loren Little, Marcus Erling, Dave Miller, Roger Wilson, June Sigman, Tony Ferri, Sam Mujica Trenche and Linda Woodson, along with Edwin Kingsley and Morton Hyson.

Musicians will include Richard McGee and Tom Ferguson of the Community College of Southern Nevada, joined by Ed Boyer, Jack Montrose and Ira Spector as well as Bobby Jo Harrison, Larry Tindall and Kenneth Woloson.

A reception will follow the concert with catering provided by Roy's and Baja Fresh Mexican Grill. For tickets and further details, call 796-3133 or 939-3910.

Coming home

Season in, season out, members of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR) work to sponsor events to benefit the less fortunate among us.

On Sept. 15 at Silverstone Golf Club, GLVAR will host its 16th annual golf tournament to benefit Habitat for Humanity and HELP of Southern Nevada. Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas, established in 1991, has thus far built 35 homes, providing a decent place to live for 130 residents.

Partnering with low-income families, this endeavor is made possible through gifts made by individuals, civic organizations, churches and corporations. Some provide hours of volunteer construction work, while others donate funds or provide building materials and furnishings.

Sharing in the proceeds of the charity golf tournament will be HELP of Southern Nevada, a community agency helping individuals and families to reach self sufficiency through direct services, training and referrals.

Serving Southern Nevada for the last 32 years, HELP in the past 12 months has provided assistance to some 60,000 individuals and families.

Stasy Gerber of GLVAR (784-5000) has all the details on the golf tournament.

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