Sands Cares Heroes of the Year: Las Vegas

In honor of the 3rd annual Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Citizenship Award, presented by Sands Cares, we are featuring our 12 Sands Cares Heroes, finalists for the Adelson Citizenship Award. Las Vegas Sands established the award to recognize Team Members across all of our regions who have demonstrated a dedication to giving back to local communities and important causes. The award was created to honor the Adelson family’s long-term commitment to philanthropy and the legacy of giving that they have instilled in the company. The winner will be announced Wednesday, April 17.

Last week you met our Bethlehem finalists, this week we’re highlighting our finalists from Las Vegas:

Deangela Clemons

What types of organizations have you volunteered for over the past year and what did you do for them? I regularly volunteer at New Beginnings Ministries by ordering, picking up and handing out food to the community that is purchased from Three Square on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. We have been doing this for the past six years. I’m also involved in our annual Nike shoe drive where we give elementary students brand new shoes. Last year we gave out over 750 pairs in our community for the 2018-2019 school year.

What was the first volunteer experience you were a part of through Sands Cares? My first experience was in December 2011. We had the opportunity to raise money and go Christmas shopping for families in need.

What impact does Sands Cares have on your community? I live in North Las Vegas, the same area that Sands Cares hosted its latest holiday event. The impact was tremendous in so many ways, but most of the credit goes to the church that it was held at, but Sands Cares funded the entire event. So many lives were touched even if it was only for a day. Over 1,100 people were fed, homeless families were able to take showers, people received haircuts, clothing and family photos with Santa. I am blessed to be able to continue to hear all the testimonies about how the event touched them in ways they will never forget.

Why is Sands Cares important to you and your fellow Team Members? Because it’s ongoing and always growing. They are constantly coming up with ways to help others in need through giving back, not just financially, but with our time. We always know why and where to volunteer. We would never have had the opportunity or the experience to get involved without this company.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity in 2018? My favorite was at the Holiday Festival of Love when I had the opportunity to help a young homeless lady push her cart with all of her belongings to the mobile showers and wait for her to shower then take her over and serve her a hot prepared meal. Then tell her about all the other services that were there for her. This made every meeting and all the time that went into hosting this event worthwhile. It made my heart feel whole knowing at that moment she had everything she needed.

Why do you think the company encourages Team Members to give back to the communities in which we operate? The company encourages its Team Members to give back to our communities because our communities need the same vibrant life that our company gives to us. If our communities decay, then our vibrant business may follow. However, I feel that my company encourages this out of a true sense of “care” and not just for “business” reasons.

Eve Gizelbach

What types of organizations have you volunteered for over the past year and what did you do for them? Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) with Camp Cartwheel and SEEK. I was a camp counselor and provided security and transportation for children living with Cancer, Sickle Cell, and other types of childhood illnesses. I also helped my gym raise over $18,000 in cash and toys for Toys for Tots. I also started to volunteer with the City of Henderson Emergency Management Division in the Get Ready program, encouraging families to make sure they are ready for disasters that may occur.

What was the first volunteer experience you were a part of through Sands Cares? I consistently participate in all the Sands Cares runs and donate to the Toy Drive each year. My first experience was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. My family has been impacted by cancer and I felt the need to raise money and participate in this event.

What impact does Sands Cares have on your community? Sands Cares has a great impact on my community. Sands Cares has been instrumental in toy drives and helping children in our community with the reading program as well.

Why is Sands Cares important to you and your fellow Team Members? Sands Cares is important because it shows that not only as an individual that I can make a difference, but that the company I work for shows that commitment as well.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity in 2018? My favorite volunteer experience was in 2018 when I was working with NCCF at Camp Cartwheel. I had the opportunity to see the children I met in 2017 and see how much they had grown as people and it was so nice to be able to learn more about their lives and help them as a mentor.

Why do you think the company encourages Team Members to give back to the communities in which we operate? It feels great doing something not just for yourself but for others. There are so many opportunities during the year to participate in and I’m thankful for that.

Julio Meza

What types of organizations have you volunteered for over the past year and what did you do for them? I am the director on the board for Futuro Charter School and DECA. I am also a youth soccer coach and high school speaker.

What was the first volunteer experience you were a part of through Sands Cares? The canned food drive.

What impact does Sands Cares have on your community? Sands Cares impacts the community we live in by listening to many of the countless voices that sometimes are missed. Sands Cares’ reach varies from helping our homeless youth, fighting against human trafficking, providing resources and support for our veterans, and their continued support for our local programs that help at-risk schools throughout the valley.

Why is Sands Cares important to you and your fellow Team Members? Sands Cares is important to me and my fellow Team Members as the program provides many opportunities for us to give back to the community. From being able to go into classrooms, to different volunteer events or simply providing funding for community organizations we believe in. At the same time, we listen to concerns and needs and even help some of our Team Members with connecting them with community organizations that can offer support in rough times.

What has been your favorite volunteer opportunity in 2018? My favorite volunteer opportunity for 2018 would have to be being part of the governing board of Futuro Academy Charter School. This has been a multi-year journey of a group of concerned community members who came together with the sole purpose of creating a high performing school for an area of town that needed it. I grew up in this area of town and it is quite significant to me. I did not find this opportunity through Sands Cares, but it doesn’t mean that the community work that Sands Cares has allowed me to do is not as impactful, as all ripples of good even if they are small, can create a large wave.

Why do you think the company encourages Team Members to give back to the communities in which we operate? I believe the company encourages Team Members to give back to our communities as kindness is a gift that is welcomed and everyone can afford to give. In addition, the stronger we are as a community, the stronger we are as a company.