A day to make a difference

Heather Rawlyk

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 5:37 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

Feb. 21-22, 2004

When employees from Household International Inc. come to Las Vegas to attend a business conference, they plan more for their spare time than golf and gambling. They plan to make a difference.

From noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, more than 150 Household employee volunteers from all over the country gathered at the Walter Bracken Elementary School campus, 701 N. 27th St., to enhance the magnet school's educational atmosphere through a variety of hands-on projects.

The volunteers, from Household International's retail services business, joined 160 fourth and fifth grade students and 44 teachers to create an outdoor museum, paint a world map on the playground and 50 states on the sidewalks, plant a xeriscape garden, apply mosaic tile to the amphitheater and install fencing by the playground.

This is the second year Household has partnered with the Clark County School District during a business conference, according to Steve Linder, community relations manager for Household.

Last year Household employees teamed up to paint the exterior of Tom Williams Elementary School in North Las Vegas, he said.

For this year's project Household asked schools and organizations to send in proposals to be considered for a $20,000 grant.

Walter Bracken was chosen out of six proposals, Linder said.

"Their proposal was so creative," he said. "It's so hard to find work for 150 people in four hours at one place on one day. This school has so many projects proposed, it was perfect for us."

Principal Katie Decker said her proposal "screamed the theme" of math and science -- subjects the magnet school thrives on.

"The whole idea of the murals and paintings on the sidewalks and walls is to encourage educational inspiration for the kids," Decker said. "Each teacher gave ideas, plans and descriptions of what they wanted to see, and the kids got involved too."

To inspire students for future careers, walls were filled with "career murals," including pictures of firefighters, veterinarians, mail carriers, dentists, financial advisers and more.

Inspirational and educational phrases were stenciled onto the poles surrounding the school grounds, with website links such as worldalmanacforkids.com, historical facts and phrases to boost student confidence.

All 50 states and capitals were painted along the sidewalks outside the school to serve as a teaching tool to students every time they walk outside.

"If you stepped on a big state and saw the name and capital when you looked down, you'd remember them," Decker said.

A full United States map and world map were also painted on the playground floor.

Around the corner, volunteers planted 130 plants and trees for a xeriscape garden, designed to teach students about plant varieties and different herbs.

Students prepared for the event by researching information on desert plant life for the garden, Decker said.

Aesthetic improvements were also incorporated into the project. Volunteers repaired and painted a wall adjacent to the school on 27th Street as well as walls surrounding the school trash bins.

"The wall outside the school was damaged and needed painting," Linder said. "Five volunteers painted that wall and when that paint is dry, students will put their handprints on the wall in different colors. Flowers are going to be made from the handprints."

Painting the walls surrounding the school will also deter graffiti, Donna Funk of Household's Chicago branch said.

"If people can see this wall and see that the students and community worked together on it, they will be less likely to destroy it with graffiti," she said.

The once transparent chain fences were also given a makeover, with the incorporation of slats to provide a "private atmosphere for the students," Funk said.

"You could see through the fences before, and see some of the houses that aren't kept up so nice or graffiti on some walls," she said. "The slats will close off the school area and students won't have to see that."

The school's fourth and fifth grade students spent the day assisting in the project by shoveling, painting and handing out drinks and snacks for the volunteers.

Younger classes periodically made their appearance in the work zone, chanting cheers in unison and rooting the volunteers on.

"The kids were so excited to do this," Funk said. "It's a good thing to get them involved. It teaches kids to do something good with the community. It will get them started with community service and see that it's fun."

Students weren't the only ones excited to get involved.

Household employees were also looking forward to making a difference, Linder said.

"The employees are always looking forward to the challenge of the project," he said. "Our community service projects are always the highest-rated event of every conference. The feedback is always fantastic."

As to whether Household would go for a third year with the Clark County School District, Linder was uncertain.

"We would love to, but it depends on where our conference is held next year," he said. "It was held in Las Vegas the past two years. We do our project wherever the conference is held.

"If it's in Las Vegas, we'll be back to help out another school or organization."