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l ux u ry wi th a p u rp o s e T H E F O R U M S H O P S AT C A E S A R S

T H E G R E AT G I V E

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DECEMBER 2018


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Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, graduated West Point in 1967. In honor of his fallen classmates who served in Vietnam and other military and government personnel who died in the line of duty, Foley and his West Point classmates started The Folded Flag Foundation. Since 2014, they have raised and invested $9.4 million for future use. To date, $3.5 million has been given in educational scholarships and support grants to 396 spouses and children of Gold Star families. The Folded Flag Foundation is a proud partner of the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation also started by Bill Foley.


LIVE synergysir.com 702.360.1414 PHOTO: Las Vegas, NV, United States

®,™ and SM are licensed trademarks to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. * All information from sources deemed to be reliable although not warranted or guaranteed by Sotheby’s International Realty®


TIMELESS We all have a passion. We all have a dream. For some, it’s about adventure. For others, it’s about tranquility. Our dreams are as vast and varied as the world is wide. But they all start with inspiration, and inspiration starts with our surroundings. That’s what home is – what you choose to surround yourself with. Family. Friends. History. An amazing view. Atmosphere. Art. It’s all part of what makes a space a home, because your home is where you truly LIVE.


FOUNDER | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Leslie Frisbee C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R

Lindsay Rohlfsen PARTNER | CELEBRITY JOURNALIST

Marsala Rypka M U LT I M E D I A J O U R N A L I S T

Buford Davis

contributors COPY EDITORS

Genevie Durano, Paul Szydelko FOOD & WINE EDITOR

Marisa Finetti WRITERS

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Shan Bates-Bundick, Scott and Elaine Harris, Bobbie Katz, Judythe Ann Michelle, Art Nadler E D I T O R I A L A S S I S TA N T

Connie Wallace SOCIAL MEDIA | MARKETING | SPECIAL EVENTS

FIG Brand Strategy Firm WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

HenkinSchultz Creative Services

business ADVISORY CHAIRMAN

Richard Haddrill CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Greg Bruce

© 2018 The CLASS Project™ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The CLASS Project™ assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Materials will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The CLASS Project™ does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented. For editorial inquiries, branded content and advertising opportunities, email info@theclassproject.com TheClassProject.com | Facebook: @luxurywithapurpose | Instagram: luxurywithapurpose | Twitter: @LuxeWithPurpose


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End a n ge r e d S pe c i e s Jewe l ry H e l p s S ave Wi ld l i fe By Marsala Rypka

Before creating his own 18-karat gold, platinum and conflictfree gemstone designs that include one-of-a-kind customized pieces, Frank Alexander Jewell crafted jewelry for some of the most prestigious houses, including Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels and Mikimoto. Jewell, now 53, was 18 when master jewelers began teaching him the artisanal techniques of hand-carving intricate wax molds for custom luxury jewelry. That skill is becoming a lost art, with so many pieces now being designed and generated by computers. Jewell, whose last name foretold his vocation, left New York two years ago and moved with his wife, Cheryl, to San Clemente, California, to be closer to nature. As a boy, Jewell loved carving animals, so when he was introduced to Peter and Corie Knights, who have dedicated their

lives to saving endangered animals, he wanted to do something to support their conservation efforts. He created BE-Jewelled for WildAid, an endangered species line of pendants, necklaces, rings and bracelets that include a whale tail, a stingray, a turtle, a pangolin, an elephant and a rhino. Jewell’s stunning gold Serengeti bracelet with two adult elephants on each side of a baby elephant was auctioned off at WildAid’s 2015 charity gala, An Evening in Africa, for $44,000. The relationship between WildAid and Alexander Jewell continues with a percentage of the proceeds from the Endangered Species line going to the nonprofit. BE-Jewelled is a great way to wear something beautiful that speaks of one’s passion and makes a difference. To support WildAid, visit alexanderjewell.com. 


P r ot e c t in g th e He rd SAN FRANCISCO NONPROFIT WILDAID KEEPS E N D A N G E R E D S P E C I E S S A F E T H R O U G H E D U C AT I O N

conversation

By Marsala Rypka | Swahili translation courtesy of Fr. Sambya Zawadi

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The statistics are heartbreaking. In 1970, there were 1.5 million African elephants; now there are 400,000. There were 100,000 lions; now there are 20,000. There were 65,000 black rhinos; now there are 5,000.

Nambari hizi ni za kutishaMwaka 1970, kulikuwa na tembo za Afrika milioni 1.5; sasa kuna 400,000. Kulikuwa na simba elfu 100,000; sasa kuna 20,000. Kulikuwa na hinoceros nyeusi 65,000; sasa kuna 5,000.

Wildlife is in such peril that on March 19, 2018, global news outlets reported the death of 45-yearold Sudan, the last male northern white rhino on the planet at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Only two females remain.

Wanyamapori walikuwa katika hatari kama hiyo mnamo Machi 19, 2018, vyombo vya habari vilivyoripoti ya kwamba Sudan mwenye umri wa miaka 45, mwanamume wa mwisho wa kaskazini mweupe, alikufa katika Ol Pejeta Conservancy nchini Kenya. Wanawake wawili tu waliobaki.

Imagine how tragic a world it would be if wild animals could only be viewed in captivity at zoos instead of roaming free in their natural habitat because they had been hunted to extinction. Thanks to the efforts of people such as British-born Peter Knights, a former Greenpeace activist and undercover investigator of illegal wildlife trade, and his wife, Corie, endangered species have a chance of surviving. When Peter co-founded WildAid, a San Francisco nonprofit in 2000, he took a different approach. Instead of focusing on protecting wildlife, he focused on educating consumers and reducing demand. WildAid’s tagline is “When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too.”

Dunia itakuwa mahali pa kusikitisha ikiwa wanyama wataweza kuonekana tu katika zoo na si katika mazingira yao ya asili kwa sababu wote wameuawa. Shukrani kwa watu kama Peter Knights, mwanaharakati wa zamani wa Greenpeace na mke wake Corie, wanyama waliohatarishwa wana nafasi ya kuishi. Petro alipoanza WildAid huko San Francisco mwaka 2002, alionyesha kweli. WildAid inasema “Acha ununuzi, uacha kuua.”


photo by Kristian Schmidt


“When we began, most people thought ivory and rhino horn came from animals that died naturally. They didn’t know thousands were being slaughtered for their body parts,” says Peter.

“Tulipoanza, watu wengi hawakujua tembo na rhinosarus waliuawa ili kupata pembe zao,” alisema Peter.

WildAid gets its message out through campaigns like “Join the Herd” and $300 million a year in donated media placement (mostly in China), along with help from 200 or so celebrity ambassadors and a small team of staff members, partners, supporters and contributors in the U.S., Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

WildAid hutumia $300 milioni kutangaza ujumbe huu (hasa nchini China), 200 celebrities na wafanyakazi wachache kutoka Marekani, Asia, Afrika, Ulaya, na Amerika Kusini.

In 2013, Peter met HRH Prince William at a Wildlife Crime Conference in London, where the prince agreed to do a public service announcement for WildAid and offered to enlist David Beckham to join him and Yao Ming. “It was hard coordinating schedules, but we shot two PSAs at Wembley Stadium, and Prince William did the tagline in Vietnamese and Mandarin,” says Peter. “When he visited China, our PSA aired 75 times a day on Chinese state TV.” WildAid’s campaigns raise public awareness and put pressure on the Chinese government. In the last three years, the consumption of shark fin soup declined 82 percent and the sale of ivory was banned starting Jan. 1, 2018, following a two-thirds reduction in price.

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WildAid operates on grants from foundations and individual gifts. For the past six years, Charity Navigator has given WildAid a perfect 100 score for fiscal responsibility and good governance. One of the ways the nonprofit raises money is by bringing its donors on safaris to Africa. “These aren’t your typical safari tours. They are immersive experiences with a conscience we call ‘Journeys With Heart,’ where people learn about conservation,” says Corie, who is in charge of major gift donations, planning WildAid’s annual November gala and donor trips to Africa, the Galapagos Islands and Mexico, where people swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays. Their Africa adventure costs $25,000, and each couple pledges a $100,000 tax-deductible donation, half of which goes to WildAid’s five local partners, including The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for baby elephants and rhinos in Nairobi. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o recently visited the orphanage and says, “I’m proud of my Kenyan heritage and honored to be a WildAid global ambassador. I spent three transformative days at the Amboseli National Park and learned elephants each have unique features and a distinct character. A 1-year-old also named Lupita trumpeted loudly when her mom wouldn’t stop to breastfeed her. That made me proud. I like a girl who knows what she wants.” Nyong’o says if it weren’t for humans, elephants would live 65 or 75 years. She explains that a live elephant creates jobs and brings in $1 million in tourism in its lifetime. When poached, it only provides a few hundred dollars for a handful of people.

Mwaka 2013, Peter alikutana na HRH Prince William huko London ambaye alifanya PSA kwa WildAid, David Beckham na Yao Ming. “Tulifanya PSA mbili kwenye Wembly Stadium ambapo Prince William alizungumza Kivietinamu na Mandarin, “alisema Peter.” Alipokuja nchini China, PSA yetu ilionyeshwa kwenye Kichina TV mara 75 kwa siku.” WildAid inaweka shinikizo kwa serikali ya Kichina. Katika miaka mitatu iliyopita, matumizi ya supu ya shark fin ilishuka 82% na uuzaji wa pembe ulipigwa marufuku kuanzia Januari 1, 2018. WildAid inafanya kazi kwenye utuaji wa misaada. Kwa miaka sita Charity Navigator amewapa WildAid alama 100 kwa wajibu wa fedha. Njia moja wanayoiingiza fedha ni kuleta wafadhili Afrika. “Hii si safari yao ya kawaida. Ni uzoefu ambapo unafunza juu ya wanyamapori,” alisema Corie, ambaye anapanga safari ya kila mwaka kwenda Afrika, Visiwa vya Galapagos, na Mexico, ambapo watu wanaogelea na papa za nyangumi. Safari yao Afrika ilitoa $ 25,000 na $ 100,000 kwa maeneo ambayo yanahitaji msaada kama David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust kwa tembo huko Nairobi. “Ninajivunia kuwa ni balozi wa Kenya WildAid. Nilikaa siku tatu katika Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ambulance kujifunza juu ya tembo.” kasema Lupita Nyong’o. Nyong’o alisema isingekuwa wanadamu, tembo angeishi miaka 65 au 75. Uzima wa kila tembo huleta dola milioni moja kwa utalii. Wanapouliwa kunakuwepo na upungufu wa mapato.


Peter Knights with actress Lupita Nyong’o in Kenya Corie Knights and guides up close with an elephant in Kenya photos by Kristian Schmidt

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photo by Kristian Schmidt


Peter and Corie Knights swimming with a whale shark in Mexico, photo by Shawn Hendricks


“An elephant is poached every 15 minutes, which means $96 million a day is lost,” says Nyong’o. “At that rate, elephants will soon be extinct. Fortunately, brave, dedicated people at organizations like Wildlife Direct, the African Wildlife Foundation, Save the Elephants Foundation and WildAid are combating poaching. But they need our help.”

“Kila Tembo moja anapouawa, ina maana $ 96,000 kwa siku upotea kwani haipiti dakika 15,”kasema Nyong’o.” Watu wenye ujasiri katika mashirika kama Wildlife Direct, Foundation Wildlife, Wildlife Foundation, na WildAid wanahitaji msaada wetu ili kuokoa tembo.

Despite the atrocities they are trying to stop, Corie, who has been to Africa 20 times, says it’s the place she feels most at peace. “Being near these majestic animals is humbling.”

Cory ametembelea Afrika mara 20. Kusafari na wanyama huleta amani.

Peter proposed to Corie at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania and they got married in 2002. Each year they celebrate their anniversary with safari guests who become family at the Ol Jogi Lodge, a 58,000-square-foot privately owned wildlife conservancy ranch in Laikpia, Kenya, lauded by CNN and Forbes as one of the best places on earth to stay. This year, daughters Julia, 13, and Charlotte, 9, joined them. “We stay in luxurious lodges and tents and feel so privileged eating delicious food and drinking a glass of wine, surrounded by a herd of elephants at dusk,” says Corie. “Africa is magical. Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in Kenya, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fell in love in Botswana. Highprofile people can relax on safari, which is refreshing. One of our guests, a big finance guy, didn’t use his phone for two weeks.” Peter, who has been to Africa 50 times, recalls some incredible moments captured by renowned photographer Kristian Schmidt. “This year we were at Amboseli when a flock of flamingos took off in a blaze of pink with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Then Tolstoy, a giant bull elephant in musth, came within 10 feet of our vehicle and trumpeted loudly to let us know who was boss. “We’ve drifted through the mist at sunrise in a hot air balloon 1,000 feet above the ground while a herd of wildebeest grazed below and a huge African sky stretched out before us. We also skimmed along the Mara River in a helicopter with hippos and crocodiles a few feet below, watching 13 lions that just killed a hippo standing at water’s edge feeding on their catch.” Beyond the savanna, the Knights are also passionate about protecting marine life. They just returned from Mexico, where National Geographic photographer Shawn Heinrichs spent four days taking photos of their group swimming and snorkeling with 30-foot whale sharks and giant manta rays. “It’s exhilarating to be 2 feet away,” says Corie. “We took Richard Branson, who said it was one of the most beautiful mornings of his life.”

Peter alimpendekeza Corie walipokuwa Crater Ngorongoro nchini Tanzania na kufunga ndoa mnamo mwaka 2002. Kila mwaka wanaadhimisha ndoa yao Ol Jogi Lodge, 60,000 Laikia, Kenya ambapo CNN na Forbes usema ni mojawapo ya maeneo bora zaidi duniani. Mwaka huu Julia (13) na Charlotte (9) walikuja. “Tunashukuru kuwa na nyumba bora, chakula na vinywaji na pia kuwa karibu na tembo, “alisema Corie. “Afrika ni ya ajabu. Prince William alipempendekeza Kate Middleton nchini Kenya, naye Prince Harry kampendekeza Meghan Markle inchini Botswana.” Peter amekuwa Afrika mara 50. Anakumbuka nyakati zingine za kutisha kutokana na picha za Kristian Schmidt. “Tulikuwa Amboseli na flamingos Mlima Kilimanjaro wakati tembo aitwaye Tolstoy alipiga tarumbeta kutujulisha uwepo wao. “Tulikuwa hewani na kundi la wildebeast chini yetu na pia uzuri wa anga ya Afrika. Tulikuwa kwenye helikopta hewani tulipowaona kiboko na mamba kwenye mto mbali kidogo na simba 13 waliokuwa wakimla kiboko.” Peter na Corie Knights pia wanajali kuhusu maisha ya baharini. Wao tu walirudi kutoka Mexico ambapo mpiga picha wa Taifa Geographic, Shawn Heinrichs alichukua picha za kundi lao la snorkeling na papa kubwa nyangumi. “Tulimchukua Richard Branson aliyesema ni moja ya siku bora zaidi ya maisha yake,” alisema Corie.

“Fishermen who hunted them now protect them,” says Peter. “They realize they are worth more alive than slaughtering them.”

“Kwa Wavuvi wanaowalinda,” alisema Peter. “Wanajua kwamba wao ni thamani Zaidi wakiwa hai kuliko kuwaua na kuuza sehemu zao.

Remember: When the buying stops, the killing can too! 

Ununuaji ukiisha, mauaji yanaweza pia! 

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a u c ur r e n t -

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2018


SEPTEMBER 14-18

London Fashion Week London

SEPTEMBER 15

Las Vegas Philharmonic Celebrating Bernstein Las Vegas

SEPTEMBER 19-25

Milan Fashion Week Milan

SEPTEMBER 20-23

The Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair Istanbul

SEPTEMBER 21-23

Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival Las Vegas

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 2

Paris Fashion Week Paris

SEPTEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 13

La Bohème Metropolitan Opera House New York City

SEPTEMBER 27-30

Art Berlin

The Melbourne Festival Melbourne, Australia

OCTOBER 4-7

Frieze Art Fair London

OCTOBER 5-7

Tremé Fall Festival New Orleans

OCTOBER 5-7

The New Yorker Festival New York City

OCTOBER 6

Eagle Rock Music Festival Los Angeles

OCTOBER 6-7

Eric Clapton New York City

OCTOBER 10-14

San Diego International Film Festival San Diego

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Berlin

OCTOBER 3-21

OCTOBER 18-21

Outsider Art Fair Paris

OCTOBER 18-NOVEMBER 4

Sculpture by the Sea Sydney

OCTOBER 25-28

Dracula Nevada Ballet Theatre Las Vegas

NOVEMBER 3

Las Vegas Philharmonic: Glass, Mozart, Bach with Simone Dinnerstein Las Vegas

NOVEMBER 3-11

Seville Film Festival Seville, Spain

NOVEMBER 7-11

Napa Valley Film Festival Napa, California

NOVEMBER 7-25

The Lion King The Smith Center Las Vegas

NOVEMBER 8-15

AFI Film Festival

Hollywood, California

NOVEMBER 10-13

au current

New York City

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The American Art Fair New York City

NOVEMBER 14-19

International Jazz Festival Buenos Aires, Argentina

NOVEMBER 16-25

EFG London Jazz Festival London

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 26

La Cenerentola: Paris Opera Paris

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New York Fashion Week

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SEPTEMBER 6-14


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1. Elaine Wynn, Michael Shulman and Lovee Arum 2. Denise Valdez, guest and Rachel Smith

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F L A I R F O R C A R E FA S H I O N S H O W Nathan Adelson Hospice’s annual Flair for Care Fashion Show and Luncheon was held May 19 at the Wynn Las Vegas. More than 500 guests attended a special showing of the Fall 2018 designs from the Wynn Collection. The event highlighted some amazing runway fashions and celebrated Nathan Adelson Hospice’s 40th year of caring for Southern Nevada. Emcee Rachel Smith from FOX5’s More news show hosted this extraordinary day. NAH CEO Carole Fisher spoke about the hospice’s legacy while keynote speaker Robin Greenspun shared a heartwarming story of her beloved mother’s experience with Nathan Adelson Hospice.

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The legacy of Nathan Adelson Hospice and Flair for Care continues with this year’s passing of the torch. Founding members and long-time co-chairs Susan Molasky, Jane Schorr, Beth Weinberger and Sharon Jenkins stepped down from their duties, and Dena DuBoef-Roth, Nicole Parry and Tami Hance have stepped up to carry on the tradition. 4

3. Looks from the runway 4. Novelty DuPree, Emily Stewart, Makiah DuPree with adopted puppy

This year’s Flair for Care raised nearly $500,000 for the foundation, ensuring that no one in the Southern Nevada community ends the journey of life alone, afraid or in pain. Nathan Adelson Hospice is thankful to everyone who helped make this event happen, especially the Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Collection, Destinations by Design, committee members, volunteers and everyone who donated items and came out and supported the organization. Photos by Infinity Photo


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KEEP MEMORY ALIVE ANNUAL SUMMER SOCIAL AND RODEO AT S H A K E S P E A R E R A N C H On June 29 and 30, Keep Memory Alive hosted the annual Summer Social and Rodeo at Shakespeare Ranch, a weekend of Western-style fun and fundraising featuring a professional rodeo event and an evening with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and “The Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar. The philanthropic weekend’s events benefited Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, which provides state-of-the-art care for those suffering from brain disorders. Camille and Larry Ruvo, along with the McGill family, resurrected the Glenbrook rodeo in 2000, which had been discontinued in 1965. The weekend fete kicked off on Friday, June 29, with a rodeo featuring bull riding and barrel racing, as well as carnival games, a watermelon-eating contest for kids and a Western-style barbecue. On Saturday, June 30, the festivities continued when chef Lagasse’s cowboys took the reins in the kitchen to prepare a delectable dinner at Shakespeare Ranch. Guests enjoyed the best of his signature cuisine perfectly paired with a selection of fine wine and spirits. The evening culminated with an intimate performance by Sammy Hagar. Photos courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation 2

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1. Dr. Jeffery Cummings and Keep Memory Alive co-founder Larry Ruvo 2. Sammy Hagar 3. Chefs Sean Roe, Emeril Lagasse and Scott Pajak 4. Drs. Marwan Sabbagh, Jeffery Cummings, Dylan Wint and Jim Leverenz


LAS VEGAS URBAN LEAGUE AWARDS GALA AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER

1. Kevin E. Hooks and George Sakin 2. MGM employees with Maria Jose Gatt

The Las Vegas Urban League hosted the 2nd Annual Awards Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser on June 1 at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. More than 200 North Las Vegas community leaders attended. The following Awards were presented: • Business Titan of the Year: George Sakin, Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits • $500K Award for Service: Maria Jose Gatti, MGM Resorts International • Broadcast Award: Stan Verrett, ESPN & Sports Center News Anchor

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The sponsors for this year’s Awards Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser were Nevada State Bank, MGM Resorts International and Enterprise Car Rental. The silent auction took place during the awards gala dinner and included autographed sports memorabilia, hotel rooms with spa packages and autographed books from the following private donors and companies: Aaron Lelah Jewelers, Ben Litvin, Scotch 80 Prime, Mike & Lakiha Tyson, Townsley Painted Portraits and MGM Resorts International. Las Vegas Urban League’s President and CEO Kevin E. Hooks, COO Ryan Myers and CFO Derek Stubbs also attended the annual event. Photos by Brian Reese

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3. Rhonda Nolen and Dr. Farrah Gray 4. Rev. Donald Chaney, Andrea Fleming and Dino Browne 5. Arnelle Simpson, Kylynn Luna, Marquita Ward and Rhonda Nolen


1. Bryan Chan and Skye Dee Miles 2. Latoya Holman, Laura Sussman and Sean VanGorder

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13TH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN GALA The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, hosted its 13th Annual Las Vegas Gala on May 12 at ARIA Resort & Casino. Centered on the call to “RISE: Rally. Ignite. Support. Empower.,” HRC’s 2018 Las Vegas gala brought together the most dynamic philanthropic members of the Las Vegas and LGBTQ communities as it honored community leaders with the following awards: • Equality Award: Bob Boughner, senior partner at Global Market Advisors • Community Leadership Award: Jamie and Judy Dahlem, trailblazing community leaders and advocates • Ally for Equality Award: Monica O. Jackson, FOX5 Emmy Awardwinning news anchor • Ally for Equality Award: Nick Robinson, title character of the revolutionary film Love, Simon Photos courtesy of Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas

3. Nick Robinson 4. Jamie and Judy Dahlem 5. Monica Jackson


Alyssa Smith

L i g h ti ng th e Way CANCER-STRICKEN FA M I L I E S G E T S U P P O RT FROM CANDLELIGHTERS

By Genevie Durano

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A child’s cancer diagnosis is devastating for any parent to hear. Forty years ago, two families who received this heartbreaking news joined forces to create Candlelighters (candlelightersnv.org), a Las Vegas nonprofit whose mission is to provide “emotional support, quality-oflife programs, and financial assistance for children and their families affected by childhood cancer.” Today, Candlelighters works with more than 600 families a year. Any child under the age of 21 who has been diagnosed with cancer qualifies for assistance from Candlelighters. In addition to services such as art and play therapy for the kids, marriage and family therapy, and bereavement support, Candlelighters also helps families financially with mortgage and rental payments, copay reimbursements and travel costs for treatment. Throughout the year, Candlelighters’ dedicated staff of nine hosts fun events such as movie nights, Halloween parties and family picnics. The highlight for the kids is the summer camp program, where a team of 130 volunteers takes 60 kids to Camp Independent Firefly in Big Bear, California, for a five-day, four-night medically supervised camp experience. “The children have a week full of swimming, archery and horseback riding, high and low ropes courses, rock climbing and many activities throughout the week,” says Melissa Cipriano, Candlelighters’ executive director. “It’s just an amazing week with these kids where they can forget about their disease. It’s a childhood tradition that we feel is so important where they can learn independence and make friends and be with like-minded peers. It’s super-important for their growth and development.”

Candlelighters provides all its services to the families free of charge through the help of the community. “We do not receive any state or federal funding as part of our fundraising efforts,” Cipriano says. “We have our two major events per year. We have our general contributions from our community, and we also have our grant sources where we receive some funding. But everything we do is solely from donated dollars.” In addition to financial contributions, the best way to help with Candlelighters is by giving the gift of time. Volunteers are always welcome at events such as the Superhero 5K, one of the nonprofit’s biggest fundraisers, scheduled in September to coincide with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Participants can either walk or run the event, and all of the money raised goes to Candlelighter families. The event, now in its 29th year, features a kids’ zone with bounce houses, a bone marrow drive and a raffle. Last year, more than 1,000 participants donned a cape and put smiles on many children’s faces. It takes not just a family but a whole community to face a cancer diagnosis. Just the knowledge that they’re not alone in this fight can be a source of hope and comfort for children and their families. When Candlelighters began four decades ago, its founders could not have imagined how impactful this organization would be. “It was such a grassroots charity in Las Vegas and has now grown into a mediumsized nonprofit that continues the vision and the mission of the founders,” Cipriani says. “That’s a beautiful thing to be able to have that lasting legacy in our community.” 


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Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
The CLASS Project | CLASS | Fall Issue by CLASS - Issuu