Giving Back To the community
Community Matters
2GC Gives and believes when you get involved with your clients beyond the "work", you will realize the work brings personal rewards.
Downsize Fitness
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was held in downtown Las Vegas and ended at the Fremont Street Experience. 2GC walked on team Downsize Fitness Las Vegas, a gym helping chronically overweight individuals wanting to lose 50 pounds or more reach and maintain their goals. As we walked for the cure, the importance of good health, being active my participation this year went beyond me. I was able to share what I recently learned with others.
First Grade Food Critics
The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, the country's leading nonprofit culinary and hospitality training institute, provides food for the federally funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) administered by Nevada's Department of Education. This program offers free, nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the summer. The Academy hosted the First Grade Food Critics, a movement founded by Benjamin Brown, an elementary school teacher and food journalist to promote nutrition education, career awareness, and academic development among children in at-risk schools, at the Springs Preserve Café to taste-test two new menu items: chicken salad and fresh broccoli florets, in addition to whole wheat crackers, salad, fruit, and low-fat one percent milk. After critiquing the SFSP menu, they sampled a chocolate chip cookie from the café menu. *Photos Courtesy of the Culinary Training Academy of Las Vegas.
Habitat for Humanity
I gave of myself (literally) with Habitat for Humanity during the summer of 2018 and developed heat sickness, but it was worth it. This organization is one I had volunteered in more than a decade ago as the communications chair. At that time, I opted to work the private fundraising events, so it was vital for me to get my hands dirty, so to speak. Writing my name on an interior wall of the home was super fulfilling. I will always be a part of changing a family's life.
Project Shero "Kiss My Palate & Wonderchild Sheroes & Dream Explorers
Project Shero™ “Kiss My Palate™” hosted an annual dining event designed to assist the local non-profit organization Project Shero™ to raise money to help make a difference in the lives of at-risk children through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. Project Shero delivers enrichment programs to children in need, primarily those served by the Boys & Girls Clubs. The programs are the WonderChild – SHEROES program for girls and their coed program, the WonderChild – DREAM EXPLORERS. SHEROES intimate classes of 10 -12 girls have reached over 1,000 girls primarily in Las Vegas and in wonderchild Atlanta, Detroit, the Bronx, and California in 4 years. To get girls local to Las Vegas and across the country more effectively, Project Shero is working to secure sponsors to go national with the Boys & Girls Clubs, with the clubs facilitating the programs. Project Shero was sponsored primarily by individuals and corporations. Project Shero is not funded by government grants or the Boys & Girls Clubs. Project Shero is a Congressional District Program 501(c) (3) Organization.
PSA – THE SHADE TREE: "A Story of Hope" Featuring Master Magician Lance Burton.
"Would You Help Me If You Knew I Was Being Abused?" the evening began with a film short and memorable Q&A with Sue Kim of the renowned Kim Sisters, as she shared her experiences with domestic abuse in her professional/personal life during her career which involved her younger sister. Sue shared how the Korean American Women's Foundation, a haven for Korean women new to the United States, was formed in Las Vegas. The evening ended with the début of new PSA – THE SHADE TREE: "A Story of Hope" Featuring Master Magician Lance Burton. Volunteers who also participated in the filming of the PSA included Dr. Benjamin S. Lurie, Dr. Paul Wilkes, military veteran, and combat PTSD survivor Jay Choi; DeAndre Esteen – director of development for The Shade Tree, and professional makeup artists Debra Weite and Cadena Laksis, Composer/ Producer David Rosen, Fremont East Studios, students from The UNLV Film Department and me in the role of an abused woman.
Goodie Two Shoes Foundations
I volunteered as often as I could as a part of Asny Cares. I continued to give back to deserving youth as 2GC. It's a part of me. Moreover, I discovered the Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, which allowed me to help some children make their own decisions by merely choosing shoes. I didn't realize being able to pick out a pair of tennis shoes of my liking my entire life was a privilege. Not having to share my shoes or wear my older siblings that are too big or the same pair from the year prior, which are now too small because I have grown, was a privilege and that I had taken it for granted my entire life. The children were kind, funny, shy, awkward, loving, intelligent, and grateful. I don't know which of us left happier. I know this charity and the kids changed my life for the better.