Nevada Women's Philanthropy

Projects Supported by the Nevada Women's Philanthropy

Year 2011
Las Vegas (Oct. 18, 2011) - Nevada Women's Philanthropy (NWP) elected to award its $325,000 2011 grant to Salvation Army of Southern Nevada. SA will use the money to re-roof and rehabilitate the 12,500 square-foot emergency overnight shelter at its five-acre Owens Campus.

"For years, SA has served our neediest populations in Las Vegas, the homeless or near homeless," NWP president Susie Lee said. "NWP's grant will be spent wisely and will have a lasting impact for Salvation Army and the people it serves."

When the construction is completed, SA will be able to increase its overnight capacity to 120 beds for approximately 75 men and 45 every night. It currently serves 4,000 unduplicated homeless people per year. Those who spend the night in the emergency shelter must have legal identification and be able to pay the $8 per night fee to stay in a temperature controlled, safe place.

"Salvation Army is thankful to be this year's NWP grant recipient," Clark County Coordinator, Major Robert Lloyd said. "Our funding is down by close to $3 million from where we were before the recession."

"If Salvation Army didn't receive this money from NWP, we would face losing this building."

Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada is this year's $30,000 NWP Founder's Grant recipient. Past grant recipients include the Rape Crisis Center, NWP Signs of Hope Counseling Center ($350,000); 2009 Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, NWP Children's Attorneys Project ($325,000); 2008 Public Education Foundation, Empowerment Schools Program ($450,000); 2007 Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars, Roundy Elementary School ($320,000); Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow, NWP Employment Project ($180,000). NWP has gifted $1.9 million since 2006.

Year 2010
The recipient of the Nevada Women's Philanthropy's 5th annual grant in the amount of $350,000 is the Rape Crisis Center (RCC). Since 1974 the RCC has been the only non-profit organization providing crisis intervention and advocacy to victims of sexual assault in Clark County. Through volunteers and staff, RCC has provided advocacy to over 35,000 victims since its inception. Programs include a toll-free 24-hour hotline, primary prevention education to Clark County residents and primary prevention education presentations to students in the Clark County School District. With Nevada Women's Philanthropy funding, RCC will open a comprehensive therapeutic counseling center, Signs of Hope, for residents of Clark County ages 12 years and older.

Signs of Hope will be developed in partnership with University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Counseling Education and Dr. Larry Ashley. Signs of Hope will provide counseling to 1,200 primary victims and support to 2,800 of their family and friends.

"The Rape Crisis Center is so honored to be the 2010 recipient of the Nevada Women's Philanthropy grant. This grant will give the RCC the opportunity to provide the therapeutic services needed to help victims of sexual assault," said Lu Torres, executive director of RCC. "Nevada Women's Philanthropy Signs of Hope Counseling Center will show that through the development of partnerships, collaboration of skill sets, and shared resources, Southern Nevada cares about its community. Together we can make an amazing difference. NWP has made us the best that we could be!"

The members of Nevada Women's Philanthropy awarded a runner-up Founder's Grant of $30,000 to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum.

www.therapecrisiscenter.org

Year 2009
The recipient of the Nevada Women's Philanthropy's 4th annual grant is Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN). LACSN will receive $325,000 over three years to fund one new attorney within the Children's Attorneys Project (CAP) Foster Care Early Intervention Program. This new program seeks to represent children from the first day they are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

"Since we launched the CAP Early Intervention Program several months ago, we have already seen the dramatic difference it makes for children to have their voices heard in court," said Barbara Buckley, executive director of LACSN. "It gives them back a sense dignity and control over their own lives. It also prevents them from languishing in the system for months or even years without receiving the services that they deserve."

"This generous grant from the Nevada Women's Philanthropy will enable us to serve an additional 400 young people over the next three years," Buckley said "With our current resources, we were only able to serve about half of the children in foster care. This important funding takes us a step closer to serving every child who needs us."

www.lacsn.org

Year 2008
The Nevada Women's Philanthropy awarded its third annual grant in the amount of $450,000 to The Public Education Foundation's Empowerment School program. The NWP also awarded a Founders' Grant of $30,000 to the runner-up, Nathan Adelson Hospice.

NWP's will become a community partner for three Empowerment Schools within the Clark County School District (CCSD). Empowerment Schools are a public school model designed to replicate national research-based best practices and increase student achievement. In these schools, the leadership is given autonomy to determine the best direction of its resources including staff development, finances, schedule, classroom materials and instruction. A pilot program consisting of four schools began in 2006. The CCSD currently has 14 Empowerment Schools. Empowerment School test scores have increased dramatically over the last three years.

"We are proud to receive this grant from Nevada Women's Philanthropy," Judi Steele, president and chief professional officer of The Public Education Foundation, said. "During these critical economic times, this significant award allows us to expand the Empowerment Schools initiative. Clark County's empowerment model is demonstrating results and holds the promise of transforming our schools in a meaningful and lasting way. We greatly appreciate the generosity of and partnership with Nevada Women's Philanthropy. Together, we are making the difference for our public school children."

www.ccpef.org

Year 2007
The Nevada Women's Philanthropy awarded the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars its second annual grant in the amount of $320,000. The runner-up, Boys Town Nevada, received an unrestricted grant of $30,000.

The After-School All-Stars grant will be used to fund after school programs and technology labs at Dr. C. Owen Roundy Elementary School in Las Vegas. Currently, the After-School All-Stars serve over 125 students daily at Roundy Elementary School. The Nevada Women's Philanthropy grant will enable the After-School All-Stars to serve more students and offer more programs at Roundy Elementary School. Additionally, the technology labs will enhance the students' learning experience. Jackie Locks, Executive Director at After-School All-Stars, said, "We are so thankful to the Nevada Women's Philanthropy group for helping us secure programming for the students at Roundy Elementary School. "This grant will enable us to offer more after school programs to more students."

The Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars provide opportunities for underprivileged youth to participate in after-school and summer activities in sports, educational, cultural and enrichment programs that are free to all participants. The After-School All-Stars encourage kids to build confidence and self-esteem and to say "no" to gangs, drugs, and violence, and "yes" to hope, learning, and life. The Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars mission is to provide comprehensive out-of-school programs that keep children safe and help them achieve in school and in life.

The agency serves 6,000 students at 15 schools in the Las Vegas area. Programs include: soccer, arts and crafts, dance, music, media, homework help, tutoring, language skills, swimming, cooking, computers, Mad Science, chess, creative writing, literacy programs, bowling, Lifetime Adventures and other recreational and educational activities. Since its inception, The Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Star program has positively affected the lives of more than 100,000 Southern Nevada youth.

www.glvasas.org

Year 2006
The first grant of the Nevada Women's Philanthropy was awarded to FIT for an Independent Tomorrow. The grant funds the Nevada Women's Philanthropy Employment Project (NWPEP), a comprehensive job assistance and placement program for unemployed and underemployed people.

The grant of $180,000 establishes a new employment project and builds a permanent Nevada Women's Philanthropy Employment Project (NWPEP) library within FIT's facility that is under construction in West Las Vegas. NWPEP assists underemployed and unemployed Nevadans to find su