Club planning holiday events to assist families in need

By Paul Takahashi (contact)

Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 12:55 p.m.

The Summerlin Rotary Club is organizing several events during the holiday season to help its neighbors in need.

This month, the club is collecting food for HELP of Southern Nevada, an organization that assists families and individuals with housing, emergency services and life skills.

On Dec. 1, the Summerlin Rotary will participate in Santa Clothes, the club’s ongoing local project spearheaded by its Las Vegas chapter. The Summerlin club will sponsor 10 local children, shopping for shoes and clothing with them at a local JCPenney. The event will end with a holiday party.

The club is also providing volunteer help to Opportunity Village for its 19th annual Magical Forest event on Dec. 1. More than 150,000 people are expected to visit, enjoying more than 3 million lights on hundreds of decorated trees, the rides on the Forest Express train and carousel and meeting Santa. Opportunity Village is a local nonprofit organization assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

On Dec. 4, the club will participate and help sponsor the popular Great Santa Run. About 9,000 people in full Santa suits will descend on Town Square for a 5K run/walk to benefit Opportunity Village. Mayor Oscar Goodman and Las Vegas acts Zowie Bowie and the event’s grand marshal, Terry Fator, are scheduled to attend.

For more information about the Summerlin Rotary Club, visit www.rotarysummerlin.org. To learn more details about how to help in the events, call Dennis Filangeri at (702) 473-1153.