Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

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Giving spirit alive and well despite troubled economy

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Colleen O'Callaghan-Miele

There are great ways that we can assist those within our community who are experiencing the life challenges of the current financial downturn. While hundreds of thousands are without jobs, homes, food, health insurance or dollars to secure them, there are people sharing and caring while doing awesome work in our valley.

A couple of Saturdays back I watch and cheered as my friend Phil Ralston and hundreds from around the valley were going bald to fight kids’ cancer again by participating in the 2009 St. Baldrick’s Day at McMullan’s Irish Pub. It was fun, and he lost only a little — OK, a lot — of hair. In fact, to tell the truth, he was scalped. In Phil’s fun yet sophisticated way, he once again finished his annual tradition of being bald and proud of it.

The Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way of Southern Nevada held a Women’s Spring Cleaning Suit Drive last Friday that blew me away. Although I am one of 25 women who founded the council with the vision and guidance of Beth Miller and Roz Carrera a little over a year ago, the goodness of this event was that gently used suits and/or professional attire were donated to give hope (Helping Other People to Evolve-my slogan) and assist abused, battered and homeless women.

This one-day event touched this volunteer with two inspiring and healing stories. The first was a woman who had lost her mother and was waiting for the right opportunity to donate her mother’s wardrobe and unworn shoes. The daughter approached our receiving trucks to unload the clothes her mother once wore with a healing smile that filled me with an overwhelming sense of empathy and comfort as she shared her loss while making a difference in another woman’s life with her mother’s belongings.

At that same moment came the husband of Officer Isabel Nazario, who lost her life on Sept. 5, 2008, when the police cruiser she was riding in was broadsided by an SUV driven by a 16-year-old. This, again, was an opportunity for helping and healing. The loss that this strong and proud young man had suffered was overcome, if only for that moment, as he laid his wife’s garments into the care of a volunteer and shared the story of who wore them with the knowledge that they, too, will make a difference in a life.

In addition to the Donate Your Suit drive, the Inaugural Women’s Leadership luncheon celebrated the Inspirational Power of Women’s Philanthropy dedicated to educate, engage and empower women to unite and give in a united way. The focus of the council is to raise funds for the United Way Center of Excellence in Early Education, which is being planned to offer services to preschoolers in North Las Vegas.

The keynote speaker Marilyn G. Winn, president of Bally’s, Rio and Paris Las Vegas, was engaging, inspiring and shared her 10 keys to success.

Marilyn told us to rededicate ourselves and inspire others. Among her memorable lines: “The purpose of life is to ... give!” “The more you give the more you receive.” “Never let the problem be more than a person to love!” Thank you, Marilyn, for such great words to live and give by.

The 2009 Award honorees were:

--Selma F. Bartlett, vice chairwoman of Bank of Nevada, Financial Stability Award — Selma has served the banking community for 63 years with 52 of them in Henderson. I am proud to say my dear friend exemplifies leadership, vision and commitment at the highest level. Selma and her wonderful husband, Troy, are examples of what giving should be about, coaching and assisting aspiring future teachers and nurses through scholarships.

-- Carolyn G. Goodman, founder, trustee emeritus, president of The Meadows School, Commitment to Education Award — Carolyn has been our community leader for more than 40 years. Carolyn was a pioneer in the founding and becoming the board president of Nevada’s first nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational pre-kindergarten through 12th grade college preparatory school, which is now celebrating it 25th year. I thought that Carolyn’s warm and witty words of how she enjoys and endures her life with her husband, Oscar, whom she described as “infamous,” were priceless. Her presence was felt by all who attended the event. What a wonderful spirit.

-- Dr. Florence Jameson, a locally renowned obstetrician-gynecologist, Access to Healthcare Award — Dr. Jameson, who has been practicing in Southern Nevada for the past 20 years, is deeply committed to volunteerism and free medical health care for the uninsured and underinsured. Dr. Jameson has launched a community-wide effort to make Nevada the 21st state that has a free nonprofit health clinic affiliated with Volunteers in Medicine. I have not had the privilege of knowing Dr. Jameson well enough to comment on anything other than that I share her vision of the importance of assisting those in need. To provide the underserved of our community with the essentials and basic needs is necessary for a healthy community.

More givers

There is one other example of a group in our community that is stepping up as the need increases that I want to share with you.

Three Square provides a clearinghouse for food banks throughout the Las Vegas Valley to obtain canned goods cheaply and easily.

Exectuive Director Julie Murray, her team and the board she serves believe in this one thing: Ending hunger is a formidable challenge, but it’s something we can achieve if we work together as a community.

If everyone in Southern Nevada did just one thing — no matter how small — to help provide food to the food-insecure, we could change the face of our city forever.

I toured the well-managed and organized Three Square facility recently and saw packed plastic crates lined up along long tables. They were set up for a crew of volunteers such as Chris Wellendorf, a family friend and colleague, to assemble bags of kid-friendly, shelf-stable foods for children who lack adequate food over the weekend. This program in itself speaks loudly for Three Square.

When reflecting upon those in our communities such as our children, seniors and veterans who go to sleep on an empty stomach, it pulls hard on my heartstrings.

I applaud visionaries such as Eric Hilton, founder of Three Square. Hilton’s passion for helping the hungry brought Three Square to life. And this part I love: He is also veteran of the Korean War.

Additional givers are Punam Mathur, board president; Christopher Handy, secretary; Kirk Clausen, treasurer; and board members Andy Abboud, Brian Ayala, William S. Boyd, Fran Inman, Dr. Ikram Khan, Emily Neilson, Peter O’Neill, Jan Pruitt, Thom Reilly, Dick Rizzo, George Smith and last but not least, Carolyn Towbin. These community givers should receive a standing ovation for their vision and mission.

United Way and ThreeSquare are two examples of organizations that are making a difference in lives. It’s humbling but also a reassuring to realize that at any time, this may be a resource you or I could need. The most precious gifts we are given here on earth are our family and friends. The limited and most needed is the gift of time, so use it and give it wisely and unconditionally when giving for a good cause.

You and I could and may very well be the next in need of a helping hand up or hope, so as I share with you, keep that in mind.

Colleen O’Callaghan-Miele, co-publisher of the Home News, can be reached at 990-2653 or [email protected]. She writes a regular blog online at mcommv.blogspot.com.

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