The Las Vegas Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will distribute more than $311,000 to various national and 57 local charities after another successful year of fundraising.
The charity, which has raised and distributed nearly $3 million since its inception in 1999, has made donations to a number of national charities - including the Tony Stewart Foundation - and will award virtually all of the remaining proceeds to 57 deserving Southern Nevada charities at its annual Grant Distribution and Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The more than $311,000 raised in 2017 is the second-highest total for the Las Vegas Chapter, behind the charity's $314,000 in distributions in 2007.
The Grant Ceremony will be held from 6-8 p.m. Pacific Time in the Drivers' Meeting Room in the infield media center of the speedway. SCC Board member and KOMP-FM radio personality Brittney Cason will emcee the ceremony.
Baby's Bounty, the Nevada Blind Children's Foundation, Street Teens and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation are among the charities receiving grants.
Children and representatives from most of the 57 organizations will attend the event, which will include food, holiday games and gifts from Santa Claus donated from a toy drive held by Harsch Management. The children and their families also will be treated to complimentary tram rides through Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when the program concludes.
"This is one of our most special nights of the year," said Paulette Anderson, director of the Las Vegas Chapter of SCC. "All of the hard work of our volunteers and board this year has enabled us to raise a great deal of money for 57 worthy charities, and it will be a pleasure to make their holiday season a little brighter. This night is for the kids, and we can't wait to share our joy with them."
The Grant Ceremony is sponsored by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Levy Restaurants and Harsch Management.
Fundraising events for the 2017 season included Laps for Charity at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Drive for Charity Golf Tournament, the PJ 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk and the NASCAR Driver & Memorabilia Auction.
Making a difference in children's lives is the focus of Speedway Children's Charities, and SCC strives to do this in collaboration with the nonprofit organizations it supports nationwide. For more information on SCC, please contact director Paulette Anderson at 702-632-8242 or [email protected].
2017 grant recipients
Assistance League of Las Vegas
Baby's Bounty
Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer of Nevada
Children's Heart Foundation
Civitan Foundation Inc.
Communities In Schools of Nevada
Culture Shock Las Vegas Inc.
Discovery Children's Museum
District 46 Lions Camp Lotza Fun
Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada
Dress for Success Southern Nevada
Easter Seals Nevada
Eye Care for Kids
Family to Family Connection, ISD 13
Foster Kinship
Foundation to for Positively Kids Inc.
Goodie Two Shoes Foundation
HELP of Southern Nevada
James Seastrand Helping Hands of North Las Vegas
Las Vegas Council, Boy Scouts of America
Las Vegas National History Museum
Leaders in Training
Life After Active Duty
Little Lucy's Child Care Inc.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada
Miracle Flights for Kids
Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation
National AMBUCS Inc.
National Hemophilia Foundation, Nevada Chapter
Nevada Ballet Theater Inc.
Nevada Blind Children's Foundation
Nevada Broadcasters Association
Nevada Child Seekers Merging Corporation
Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
Olive Crest
Opportunity Village
Pinecrest Academy of Nevada
Project REAL Inc.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Las Vegas
S.A.F.E. House
Somerset Academy of Las Vegas - Lone Mountain
Somerset Academy of Las Vegas - North Las Vegas
Southern Nevada Public Television
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Nevada Inc.
Spread the Word Nevada
St. Jude's Ranch for Children - Nevada Region Inc.
Street Teens
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada
Greater Las Vegas After-School All Stars
The Lullaby Connection
The Ogden Foundation
The Police Athletic League Inc. of Southern Nevada
The Shade Tree Inc.
Three Square
Touro University Nevada
White Horse Youth Ranch
YMCA of Southern Nevada
