SECOND ANNUAL “WAITING FOR CHARITY”
Nov. 4, 2004 - Tommy’s Chophouse Restaurant
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation benefited from the second annual “Waiting for Charity” evening held at Tommy’s Chophouse Restaurant on Nov. 4. The event featured local personalities serving dinner and raising money by any means, including stealing forks and plates for a ransom donation, selling raffle tickets, and generally having a great time with the sell-out crowd. The total amount raised at the event was $5,000.

28TH ANNUAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AWARDS BANQUET
Nov. 11, 2004 - Silver Legacy Resort Casino
More than 350 people attended the 28th Annual Awards Banquet at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. This year’s Distinguished Service Award went to the Carano family, whose generosity and involvement in the club has been overwhelming since the club’s inception. Teen Members of the Year included: Eddie Trujillo from Sun Valley, Jorge Macias from Neil Road, Angel Nunez from Ninth Street. Youth Members of the Year included: Shakia Walker from Ninth Street, Etienne Cruz-Aguirre from Neil Road, Stephanie Smith from Rollan Melton, Ciaran Brown from Sun Valley, Ruben Olvera from TMCC. Also, Track Break Member of the Year was Brett Chaney, and SMART Moves Member of the Year was Tatiana Anderson Hall. Recipients of the Female and Male Youth of the Year were Ricky Esquivel, an 18-year-old 2004 graduate of Hug High School, and Alishia Reyes, a 17-year-old senior at Sparks High School who maintains close to a 4.0 GPA.

A STARRY NIGHT “CELEBRITIES TAKE A BOUGH,” FUND-RAISER FOR SAINT MARY’S FOUNDATION
Nov. 20, 2004 - John Ascuaga’s Nugget
A Starry Night “Celebrities Take a Bough” is an elegant, black-tie affair that sells out weeks prior to the event. Celebrities, artists, business people, and politicians make, create, and donate Christmas ornaments for Saint Mary’s annual fund-raiser. Ninety-plus ornaments were up for auction. Ornament artists included such dignitaries as Sen. Harry Reid, Gov. Kenny Guinn, Wynonna Judd, Adam West, Steve Guttenburg, and golfers from the 2004 Reno-Tahoe Open. A silent auction was held during the event, which raised in excess of $300,000. All proceeds went to update the emergency department at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS BENEFITING STEP
2 Dec. 3-5, 2004 - ArrowCreek
On Dec. 3, event-goers began with a tour through the streets of ArrowCreek with stops at fabulously decorated homes. Homeowners were delighted to show their holiday traditions and give home tours. A buffet dinner and silent auction awaited participants at the country club. As people entered for the festivities, two United States Marines stood next to a barrel overflowing with toys (Step 2 teamed up with the Marine Corp.’s Toys for Tots program), which appeared to be successful, as toys were piled high. On Dec. 3 and 5, the event was opened to the public and participants were able to tour five ArrowCreek homes. The Step 2 program is a recovery program for chemically dependant women. Administrative officer Leah Sherbondy said the ArrowCreek Homes for the Holidays is in its 12th year and was hugely successful.

CAMP CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS
Nov. 26 and Nov. 28, 2004 - Park Lane Mall Parking Lot
RTC/Citifare buses were decorated with lights, trees, and ornaments while Santa and Mrs. Claus and their elf, Bill, sipped hot chocolate. A huge heated tent filled with toys, holiday music, and free ice cream transformed the parking lot of Park Lane Mall into the North Pole. Seven radio stations encouraged people to pick up an extra toy while Christmas shopping and drop it off for needy children. Carole Miller, director of community relations of Washoe County for The Salvation Army, said she was overwhelmed by the effort of so many people for this year’s “Angel Tree” program. The generosity in hours, supplies, and gifts brought in thousands of toys. Miller said many children would receive gifts this year that might otherwise be left out.

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON WITH TONI TENNILLE — A BENEFIT FOR THE RENO PHILHARMONIC
Dec. 5, 2004 - Reno Hilton
After a year’s hiatus, this exciting event returned with new music, artists, and surprises. The re-vamped Reno Philharmonic holiday concert, Spirit of the Season, held Dec. 5 made a huge splash in the new location — the Reno Hilton Theater. The sold-out show, featuring Toni Tennille, used every bit of the large stage with not only the orchestra but local talent, including gospel choirs, Rockette-style dancers, Russian dancers, ballet dancers, gymnasts, and Santa Claus. The concert was sponsored by the Reno Gazette-Journal, IGT, and Mercedes-Benz of Reno.

RENO-TAHOE OPEN CHARITY DONATION CEREMONY
Dec. 7, 2004 Boys and Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows
Reno-Tahoe Open officials bestowed local charities with $168,250 in a ceremony on Dec. 7. Money is derived from the golf event, part of the PGA Tour, which took place at Montreux Golf and Country Club in the summer. This brings the donation total since the tournament’s inception in 1999 to nearly $1.3 million. Local charities benefiting this year include Fred and Judy Alexander Foundation, SPCA, Boys and Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows, YMCA of the Sierra, The Children’s Cabinet, House Calls, Foster Grandparents, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno Explorers, and Galena High School. In 2005, the Reno-Tahoe Open will take place Aug. 15-21 at Montreux.

AN INCOME OF HER OWN, GIRL SCOUTS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA
Dec. 14, 2004 - University of Nevada, Reno, Jot Travis Student Union Building
An Income of Her Own is a program designed by the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada to inspire high school girls to gain financial empowerment. The program teaches them that being a business women, business owner, and leader are obtainable goals. On Dec. 14, the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada organized this full day of events for 56 girls from local high schools. More than a dozen local business people volunteered their services for the day. The girls were organized into small groups, headed by a female business women/business owners. The girls interviewed these successful women, learned business strategy skills, built a business plan, and learned the importance of networking at the event.

RENO’S HOMETOWN NUTCRACKER, THE RENO DANCE COMPANY/KID’S KOTTAGE
Dec. 17, 2004 - Golden Phoenix Showroom
The Reno Dance Company’s rendition of “Reno’s Hometown Nutcracker” was an absolute delight. Dancers as young as 6 years old hit every mark and never missed a cue. The performance had a fresh innocence that brought the magic of Christmas to the audience. The Reno Dance Company provides Northern Nevada youth the opportunity to learn dance regardless of their economic level. Leaders at the dance company donated half of the proceeds from a December performance to the Kid’s Kottage. Kid’s Kottage is an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Sixty-two children were being cared for at the shelter at the time of the performance.

10TH ANNIVERSARY RENO TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Dec. 19-21, 2004 - Reno Livestock Events Center
A highlight of the Reno Tournament of Champions, nicknamed “The Reunion,” was the appearance of 2004 Olympic bronze-medal, 2000 gold-medal winning and three-time national-champion wrestler Rulon Gardner. He shook hands, signed autographs, and posed for pictures with fans. Also, he offered an encouraging message for RTOC competitors, telling them to take a chance, try to be the best, keep believing and focusing, and they can win. The RTOC features more than 1,400 collegiate and high school wrestlers from 19 colleges and 87 high schools.
Northern Nevada was represented at the competition by students from Galena High School, Carson High School, Fallon High School, Damonte Ranch High School, Reed High School, Spanish Springs High School, and White Pine High School. The event is held annually with the help of many volunteers and generous sponsors, including Brute wrestling gear, Eldorado Hotel Casino, and Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

NEVADA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Dec. 28-31, 2004 - Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Nightingale Hall
The talents of internationally renowned musicians were showcased during the inaugural Nevada Chamber Music Festival, presented by and benefiting the Reno Chamber Orchestra. The festival featured concerts in two venues, Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in South Reno and Nightingale Hall on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Theodore Kuchar, RCO music director and conductor, developed the festival concept and serves as artistic director. Kuchar also is artistic director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, regarded as the pre-eminent festival of its kind in the southern hemisphere. One festival reviewer, looking ahead to next year, wrote, “Kuchar deserves a huge ‘thank you’ for making (the festival) happen and local audiences have a lot to look forward to” next year.

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH JENNIFER LARMORE
Jan. 22, 2005 - Reno Hilton Theater
An intimate evening with Jennifer Larmore was presented by the Nevada Opera to an enthusiastic crowd. Larmore’s strong, passionate voice filled the Hilton Theater and delighted spectators. One audience member said it seemed Jennifer was performing just for him, thus, fulfilling the intimacy promised in the billing.

SIERRA ARTS PRESENTS BREW HA HA
Feb. 11, 2005 - John Ascuaga’s Nugget
More than 2,000 people came to sample brews, dine, dance, and bid on auction items at the 10th annual Brew Ha Ha at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. One of the area’s most popular events boasts a decade of bringing regional microbrews and good times together. All proceeds benefit Sierra Arts: a local organization dedicated to exposing the community to the many forms of art.

RENO ROTARY FOUNDATION PRESENTS ‘FAT TUESDAY, THE TASTE OF RENO’ AND RENO EVENTS CENTER GRAND OPENING
Feb. 8, 2005 - Reno Events Center
The Reno Rotary Foundation sponsored the highly anticipated grand opening of the Reno Events Center. Fat Tuesday, “The Taste of Reno” as the event was billed was apropos. A band played jazz throughout the evening and party-goers sparkled in Mardi Gras beads and masks. Local restaurants, casinos, businesses and various wineries had festive booths with samples of their wares. Bob Lewis, Rotary Club chairman for the event, said it was an honor to host such a prestigious event for the downtown redevelopment project. He also stated that through fund-raisers such as these, Reno Rotary was able to put $350,000 back into the community last year.

NEVADA STATE FAIR ANNUAL FUND-RAISER ‘CARNIVAL OF CRAB’
Feb. 9, 2005 - Exhibit Hall at the Reno Livestock Event Center
You had to be a little crabby to join in the fun at the Nevada State Fair’s annual fundraiser, “Carnival of Crab.” Most were a lot crabby, which wasn’t hard with 1,200 pounds of fresh cooked crab at the all-you-could-eat buffet. Cowboy hats mixed with fur coats in this diverse crowd. Children and seniors mingled with laughter and smiles throughout the evening while all enjoyed live entertainment, live auctions, silent auctions, and raffles. According to Gregg Williams (also know as “Lightning”) Nevada State Fair’s executive director, this year’s annual fund-raiser was a complete success. “We sell out every year,” he said. “As the fair is nonprofit and this is our only organized fund-raiser, this event is very important.”