Columnist Susan Snyder: With kids, Maloof packs clout

Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 | 8:28 a.m.

A struggling Las Vegas elementary school found an angel just a few blocks up the road.

Cindy Alamshaw, assistant principal of Jydstrup Elementary School, said that when she discovered 300 of the pupils in her at-risk school couldn't afford a backpack to carry their books, she asked the Palms and its owner George Maloof for help.

Maloof came through in aces with 300 kid-size backpacks imprinted with the school's name and logo. Not only did the Palms send packs in two shades of blue from which children could choose, but none of them included the casino's logo or name.

Alamshaw recently recalled the conversation she had with Palms representatives about the need for backpacks.

"They said, 'That's it? Create a wish list.' So this is what I gave them," she said, handing me a copy of her two-page list of projects with which Jydstrup needs some financial and volunteer assistance. And Maloof's Palms employees said they could help with all 16 items.

Projects include purchase of five laser printers, food and volunteers for the monthly barbecue to honor the members of the fourth grade "Peace Patrol" peer mediators, new landscaping of the school's woefully dull outdoor courtyard.

Palms employees also will be given time off to mentor or read to Jydstrup's pupils in the classroom.

Most of Jydstrup's 1,100 pupils come from modest means, and 53 percent of those who start the year move on before it's finished. Absenteeism, parents taking kids home early and tardiness are huge challenges, Alamshaw said.

To help curtail the problem, Palms officials have promised that at the end of each trimester they pick up all children who have no tardies, no early withdrawals from the school day and one tardy or less and take them to the hotel for a morning of free ice cream, video games and movies.

"It's unbelievable," Alamshaw said. "We don't even know how to thank them."

That's OK. They didn't ask for thanks. They didn't even seek publicity. Palms officials didn't send out news releases about the Jydstrup projects or even return calls seeking comment.

How fast can you roll a wheelchair -- while sitting in it?

The Nevada Wheelchair Foundation is looking for four-member teams who will compete during the Wheelchair Foundation Day celebration, scheduled for Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 at the Hot Rod Grille, 1231 American Pacific Drive, in Henderson. Call 567-5659 for directions.

The races will be conducted the first day of the event, which will be open 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 25 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26. Other activities are to include a monster wheelchair competition, silent auction and car show.

There also was to be a chili cook-off, but it has been changed to a bikini contest, John Williams, foundation spokesman, said.

"We thought we'd attract more hot rodders with bikinis than chili," Williams joked.

The event is to help raise awareness for the foundation, which offers free wheelchairs to residents who need them.

For more information on obtaining a free chair or to register a team for the race, call (800) 851-3706 or log onto www.wheelchairsfornevada.com.