Celebrate Southern Nevada Charities on National Non-Profit Day, August 17

On August 17th, National Nonprofit Day (NND) recognizes the goals and positive impacts nonprofits have on communities and the world. Through nonprofits, awareness, research, and aid reach the people who need it most.

Here are some was to observe this special day in Las Vegas with donations, volunteerism and giving back to the community with local charities:

American Cancer Society Nevada – The American Cancer Society’s mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Donations help with breakthrough research, free rides to treatment, free places to stay near hospitals, and other critical patient services all possible. $100 donation can provide 4 patient rides to a treatment or to a follow up appointment. Save the date for the upcoming Making Strides of Las Vegas on October 24 at Red Rock Hotel & Casino, to form a team, visit, www.MakingStridesWalk.org/LasVegasNV or to donate at a local chapter, visit: cancer.org.

Create a Change Now – is committed to educating and empowering children and their families by providing the resources needed to promote healthy living and guard against diseases to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Programs include the teen culinary council, education on healthy eating and the inspiring future Chef show. It is well known that unhealthy children do not do well in school. Clark County is the 5th largest school district in the country with abysmal drop-out and graduation rates that are the worst in the nation. Hungry, poorly fed children rarely excel in the classroom. For more information or to donate, visit, createachangenow.org.

Lion Habitat Ranch – The habitat is an educational wildlife sanctuary and is the home to more than 30 lions. Additional animals include Ozzie, the painting giraffe, emus, tortoises and birds. It costs $25 to feed one lion per day. The habitat is opened to the public Thursday – Monday, 10am – 2pm at 382 Bruner Ave. To attend the upcoming 1 hour gentle lion yoga class, Lion’s Breath of Yoga with certified instructors Lisa Claridy and Sindi Keene held on Oct. 23 and 24, donate, or volunteer, visit the website at lionhabitatranch.org.

Project Marilyn is a new non-profit organization in Southern Nevada and provides monthly feminine hygiene products to homeless women and teens in need and partners with several non-profit agencies including Project 150, Safe Nest, Salvation Army, Just One Project, Las Vegas Rescue Mission and more. The themed bags contain tampons, maxi pads and hygiene wipes. To volunteer, assemble bags, attend events, sponsor a period for $10 a month, or to donate, visit: projectmarilyn.org

Serving Our Kids Foundation is dedicated to feeding and serving the needs of Clark County homeless and as-risk children. The foundation relies on volunteers, and helps to feed more than 63+ Clark County School District classrooms and collects 5,000 meal bags for kids each week. Grab your clubs, and support the upcoming The 10th Annual Serving our Kids Golf Tournament on Nov. 6 at Stallion Mountain Golf Course. Visit the website for volunteering and bagging opportunities, or donate to the crisis meal packs, visit. servingourkids.org.

The Chef Jeff Project is a culinary, hospitality, and life skills training program for disenfranchised youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those seeking a fair chance. They offer masterclasses, life coaching, in-person and virtual culinary and hospitality training, and hands-on food service experience to help our youth learn the necessary skills to find and retain employment. The program focuses on helping individuals overcome barriers to employment through cognitive thinking transformation, soft-skills development, professional communication, conflict resolution, and time management to not only prepare them for the workforce but to lead a more productive life. The Chef Jeff Project also hosts weekly pop-ups, in its gourmet test kitchen in North Las Vegas. For more information on the comfort food pop ups and Second Chances Catering, visit www.thechefjeffproject.org

Sunrise Children’s Foundation provides free programs for children ages 0 – 5 years, and supports a myriad of critical areas focusing on optimal child development including prenatal care and breastfeeding education, including: Early Head Start, Home Visiting and WIC (women in children). They provide the best education bright from the start. A $10 donation will provide books for every child in the classroom to promote literacy and parental bonding as parents read to their children; $20 supports meals for an entire classroom. Visit the website for upcoming fundraising events and to volunteer at sunrisechildren.org

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Nevada– St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude, as they pay for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. September is childhood cancer awareness month, attend the Vegas – St. Jude Heart of Fashion at the Aviators Ballpark on Sept. 18 or create a team and join the St. Jude walk/run on Sept. 25 at Town Square. For more information, visit stjude.org.

Jazz Outreach Initiative: Founded by Las Vegas native Kenny Rampton, Jazz Outreach Initiative (JOI) promotes the cultivation of jazz music through performance, education and advocacy. “JOIn” master jazz artist Kenny Rampton (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis) and GRAMMY nominated vocalist Clint Holmes in a private performance with the JOI Jazz Trio (Patrick Hogan, Summer Kodama, Jakubu Griffin) for the Joi Jazz Soiree on August 27. Additional performances include a premier of Kenny’s arrangement of “Smile” and his acclaimed “Until Next Time” with the JOI Jazz Chamber Orchestra featuring strings from the LV Philharmonic. Enjoy performances by members of the Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra, and other surprises! For more information on the non-profit and event visit: http://www.jazzoutreachinitiative.org/

Save Red Rock – is a group of concerned citizens working to preserve the safety, serenity, and scenic nature of Red Rock Canyon. The group strives to protect the rural character and prioritize recreational and environmental needs over other uses not conducive to the primary uses as determined for the canyon area. For more information, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.SaveRedRock.com.

Vegas PBS uses television and other technologies to educate and empower individuals and to extend and amplify the effectiveness of community organizations. Join Vegas PBS for the return of Be My Neighbor Day on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Presented by the Howard Hughes Corporation, Be My Neighbor Day is a free outdoor event on The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin that promotes being a caring neighbor. Attendees will be able to engage in family friendly activities, explore first-responder vehicles, meet with vendors and have an unforgettable fun-filled day! Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat are practicing safe social distancing. This event is free but an RSVP is required. Organizations interested in becoming a vendor or sponsoring the event should visit vegaspbs.org/bemyneighborday. For programming, information on the special needs resource library, online education, resources, and to donate, visit vegaspbs.org.