THE LOOP A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND NEVADA
DECEMBER 2023
ISSUE 33
VOLUME 3
Greetings from WestCare Nevada, We live in a fast-paced world characterized by individual pursuits. However, when I think about treatment and recovery, my thoughts take me to a much different world. A world where individuals put aside their own interests and instead, consider the interests of others. A world full of healthy relationships where reciprocity prevails. A world that places a great deal of emphasis on gratitude and service. A world that is similar to what this time of year is supposed to signify, which is a “season of giving.” I have never believed that an attitude of gratitude and service should be seasonal either. You see, I believe that gratitude and service should be a yearround mentality because it fosters what self-centeredness and self-interest do not, which is a more compassionate and harmonious society. I am reminded that a grateful heart comes from when we recognize the abundance in our lives - no matter how much or how little we have. I am reminded that abundance should compel us to share our resources, time, and gifts with others - hence creating a positive feedback loop that doesn’t just benefit those on the receiving end. It also has a positive impact and positive transformation on the giver. This is evident in this issue of the Loop newsletter as you will read and see the impact created by those within this agency who have had the opportunity to participate in different forms of community involvement and I am confident that for each of them (us), their lives will be forever changed. This month's Loop has the following stories that I believe will inspire you to create your own life-changing experiences while serving others with an attitude of gratitude. A couple of us had the pleasure of attending the Darren Waller Foundation's Beyond the Wall fundraiser. WestCare volunteered at the
Third Annual Giving Back to Box Town Block Party and at the Annual Christmas Giving Project by Help of Southern Nevada, which at its completion, allowed us to pick up a U-Haul full of toys and bicycles that we were able to hand out to all the children associated with our clients in treatment. We also held our annual Tea Party at the Women and Children‘s Campus. We participated in the Naughty or Nice Holiday Party at Foundation for Recovery, where our Spiritual Care Chaplaincy Program (SCCP) table décor won a 1st place prize and our WestCare Nevada table took 3rd. You will also read and see how WestCare participated in the Santa Clothes program with the Las Vegas Rotary Club and our Las Vegas Community Involvement Center’s Friendsgiving event. So, in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and even divided, cultivating gratitude and actively serving others can become powerful ways for building and/or rebuilding healthy relationships, creating a world that is more concerned about others, which in turn continues the WestCare mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit and improving the lives of everyone we encounter. On behalf of WestCare Nevada, I want to wish you a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Leo Magrdichian, LCSW, LCADC, Vice President
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Annual Christmas Giving By Rhonda Davisson, Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator For over 10 years, the men, women, and children we serve have been gifted with bikes, scooters, and toys for the holiday season by HELP of Southern Nevada, 98.5 KLUC TOY Drive, and other community sponsors such as The Venetian, NVEnergy and many other Las Vegas Business partners! On December 1st of our annual amazing community Christmas Project, we raised: $33,000+ in monetary and gift card donations 1 Coca-Cola truckload filled with Toys Over 100+ bikes Thank you to everyone who has gifted those we serve with kindness and holiday spirit!
Annual Tea Party By Rhonda Davisson, Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator On December 11, our ladies at the Women and Children’s Campus enjoyed their annual Tea Party, post-covid edition. This tradition is an annual gift from our very own Community Action Council! Our clients received beautiful teacups, an array of sweets, and a gift card to begin their holiday shopping. They also decorated gingerbread houses, which will be used to decorate our dining room tables on Christmas!
Naughty or Nice Holiday Party By Rhonda Davisson, Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator
By Ryan Creelman, Director of Spiritual Care, WestCare Foundation
On Friday, December 8, we brought our Grinchiest Grinch to Foundation for Recovery’s second annual Naughty or Nice Holiday Party!
WestCare Spirtual Care Chaplain Program & AfterCare Spiritual Fellowship also joined this Naughty or Nice holiday event, winning first place in their Holiday Table Decorating Contest! The visionary theme was based on spiritual and religious cultural competency in sacred celebration! Our table included diverse representations including Advent, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas, (both traditional and secular) and Kwanzaa.
This was an amazing opportunity to connect with Las Vegas’ recovery community partners and share so much holiday warmth and cheer that even the Grinch had to nod in approval!
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Uplifting the Human Spirit Helping Santa Deliver Some Holiday Cheer By Andrew Moran, Development Director, WestCare Foundation It’s once again time to prepare for a very merry Christmas! WestCare volunteered at the 28th annual Santa Clothes program, sponsored by the Southern Nevada area Rotary Clubs! In 1996 when Santa Clothes was first initiated, the goal was to provide warm clothing and shoes to children in need at Christmas time and that remains our goal today! The program began with 35 children being sponsored by the Las Vegas Rotary Club and this year, we were able to include over 400 kids from organizations such as The Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs, St. Jude's Ranch, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Y.M.C.A. Through this amazing program, members of our club and other clubs throughout the valley, along with their adult family members and friends, volunteered to shop for shoes, socks, shirts, pants, and jackets with a child in need at JCPenney. This year’s Santa Clothes event took place on Thursday, December 7 and WestCare staff, Leo Magrdichian, Josh Lopez, and Rhonda Davisson each got to shop with a kid bringing happiness to their holiday season. JCPenney was open only to us and we zoomed around the department store grabbing all the different items with smiles on our faces. The kids had a blast and we did too. After the shopping, we all met at the Boy Scout Area Council’s facility for a field day where we came together to play games at stations prepared by the University of Las Vegas’ athletic teams. Mayor Pamela Goynes Brown spoke to the children with a message of hope, long-time Denver Bronco legend, Rick Upchurch, signed footballs and gave the children a speech on giving back through philanthropy. The funds raised were generously matched by the Engelstad Foundation, a longtime supporter of the Las Vegas Valley. We are proud to once again participate in this event and be a part of the Las Vegas Rotary Club and all that they do to Uplift the Human Spirit of our Las Vegas residents!
Friendsgiving at Maryland Parkway By Gardis Canty, Director of Community Health Services, Maryland Parkway The word “Friendsgiving” was officially added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in January 2020. It’s the day you celebrate Thanksgiving with your friends. Here at Maryland Parkway, we celebrated amongst co-workers, friends, and clients. To strengthen the morale amongst our staff, we celebrated with good food, lots of laughter, and some challenging Minute to Win It games - several of which the clients got engaged in. The food was set up buffet style and there was a large array of dishes. For the gameplay, we awarded the winning staff with gift cards, which seven staff won! Below, please find comments shared by some of our clients who attended the event: “It was a very homey setting and the food was absolutely good. The staff were also very professional and great at helping me feel so welcome into the WestCare family. The staff members were on point at making me feel like WestCare was the place for me and made me feel right at home. Plus, the food was TREMENDOUS.” - TS “I thought it was very nice. Love being here. You guys take care of people very well. I truly enjoyed it.” - DS “The Thanksgiving party at WestCare Maryland Parkway was amazing. They let the clients join. The food was great and they played appropriate games. The environment was festive and appropriate for recovery. I had a great time. I would be fortunate to take part in any event like they had here at WestCare. I thank you so much for the opportunity.” - RS
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Uplifting the Human Spirit Darren Waller Foundation’s Beyond the Wall By Andrew Moran, Development Director, WestCare Foundation Back in late November, Vice President for WestCare Nevada, Leo Magridichian, and I attended the Darren Waller Foundation’s fourth annual Beyond the Wall fundraising event at Dragon Ridge Country Club in Henderson, Nevada. Tight end for the New York Giants, Darren Waller, and his partner both have a big heart for second chances for those in the recovery community. The Darren Waller Foundation was founded in 2020 with the mission to equip youth to avoid and overcome addiction to drugs and alcohol, and to support them and their families during their recovery and treatment journey. The purpose of Darren’s Beyond the Wall event was to raise funds for Darren’s Against the Wall recovery grants for Las Vegas residents battling substance use disorders. Alongside WestCare donors and supporters, Fletcher and Anne Marie Jones, Leo and I accompanied the Darren Waller Foundation board members to enjoy an evening full of live auctions, good food, and even a game of catch with the football stars! We want to thank Darren and his foundation for the ongoing support of our recovery community!
Giving Back to Box Town 2023 By Nou Her, Marketing Specialist We are proud to have been a sponsor of the 2023 Giving Back to Box Town block party! Now in its third year and with 900 visitors checked in and over 600 toys given away, we are honored to have contributed to helping families have the best of the holidays this season. Our staff and clients volunteered and WestCare’s Director of Training and Technology, Jennifer Hilton, was part of the planning committee - helping to bring this event to fruition. We can’t wait for next year!
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