NIGHT OF ART & OSCARS Feb. 27, 2005
Peppermill Hotel Casino

Tuxedos, evening gowns, dancing, and an elegant dinner, sipping champagne and watching your favorite actor or director receive an Oscar. If it sounds like a night of glitz and glamour in Hollywood, you would be half right. There was plenty of glitz, glamour, and stunning beauties in evening gowns but it was at the Peppermill Hotel Casino. Sierra Arts proudly presented a Night of Art and Oscars. What started as one woman’s fun night with friends at her home during the Oscars turned into a highly anticipated event for hundreds of people. Robin Holabird, deputy director of the Nevada Film Commission and board member of Sierra Arts, began by inviting a group to her home almost a decade ago. As the numbers grew, soon her home was too small and a Night of Art and Oscars was born. Profits from the event go to the Sierra Arts, a local organization that supports art in all its forms.

2005 JUNIOR OLYMPICS March 6-12, 2005
Auburn Ski club Training Center in Truckee, Calif.

More than 1,000 people traveled to the Truckee and North Tahoe area to watch and support outstanding young athletes at the 2005 Cross-Country Junior Olympics in Truckee. The event was held at the Auburn Ski Club Training Center from March 6-12. It was only the second time in 77 years the competition returned to Truckee. Pacific Crest Properties, a local real estate company, contributed to the sponsorship of the event. The Junior Olympics brought more than 425 of the nation’s top junior athletes one step closer to their dreams of someday competing in the Olympic Games and other international competitions. “We wanted to show our support and admiration for the dedication, character, and athletic excellence that these athletes have demonstrated,” said Dinny Harter, owner of Pacific Crest Properties.

BRISTLECONE FAMILY RESOURCES SPAGHETTI DINNER FUND-RAISER March 19, 2005
SageWind Campus

Bristlecone Family Resources’ dinner and auction fund-raiser was a complete success, according to Tracy Peterson-Turner P.H.D., board member and event coordinator. “We knew the event would be fun, but we were overwhelmed by the community support for our agency. The success of this fund-raiser would not have been possible without the sponsorship of the Eldorado Hotel Casino.” Bristlecone Family Resources is the largest nonprofit provider of addiction treatment and prevention in Northern Nevada. The organization turns no one away based on the ability to pay. The group’s next event will be Run for Recovery in October.

CAMP LOTSAFUN PRESENTS ‘A WEDDING TO REMEMBER’ Feb. 18, 2005,
McKinley Arts & Culture Center

The actors of “Fun Time Theater” were the hosts of a dinner murder-mystery to benefit Camp Lotsafun. The theme was a wedding and dinner guests were told to trust no one, not even people at their table. As the room filled with people, a cowboy with a guitar entered the room and the bride could be heard screeching across the room “Daddy, where is my orchestra?” The actors’ performances were believable and their costumes detailed. Ohs and ahs were heard coming from the audience as they tried figuring out who committed the crime. Camp Lotsafun benefits children with neurological and developmental disabilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP’S EIGHTH ANNUAL EARTH DAY ORGANIC WINE & BEER TASTING
April 22, 2005 — Idlewild Park

Our local nonprofit Environmental Leadership group organized a silent auction, wine and beer tasting. This was not just another sampling of delicious beers and wines; these spirits were all organic. Ten wineries and three breweries were proudly handing out samples of their finished products made from biodynamic and organically grown ingredients. All proceeds go to support local Earth Day functions.

MOUNTAIN VIEW MONTESSORI PRESENTS ‘CARIBBEAN NIGHTS’
March 11, 2005 — Reno Sparks Convention Center

Mountain View Montessori School held its 8th annual fund-raiser with the theme of Caribbean Nights. Guests and supporters were encouraged to don beach wear, costumes, and tourist clothing. The room was festive with grass skirts, pirates, and flowered shirts. Students from the school mingled through the crowd in their Caribbean costumes selling raffle tickets. Palm trees, surf boards, and cantinas surrounded the rows of auction items. As part of the fund-raiser a local gaming school brought students, blackjack tables, and chips for real casino action. The school boasts 195 students and growing.

SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL NORTHERN NEVADA CHAPTER 10TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER DINNER AND AUCTION
March 12, 2005, — Peppermill Hotel Casino

The Safari Club International, Northern Nevada Chapter held its 10th annual fund-raising dinner and auction. Attendees came from adjoining states to show their support and enjoy fellow chapter member’s company. Phil Delone, chapter president, said “The funds that are raised at events such as these allow our organization to support sound wildlife management for generations to come.” “In the past year our chapter has six $1,000 scholarships to wildlife management students at UNR, we funded in excess of $15,000 to Sage Grouse research and monitoring and donated $5,000 to a NDOW Mule Deer range study,” he added. Auction items varied from a barbecue to an African photo safari for two.

ON WITH LIFE/WINE TASTING FOR MOMS ON THE RUN
April 30, 2005 — Truckee River Bar & Grill

On With Life, a group of local women who provide financial support to breast cancer patients, held its annual fund-raiser at The Truckee River Bar & Grill April 30. Cancer survivors mingled with supporters while raising funds that all go to the local nonprofit organization, Moms on the Run. Diane Smith and Dayle Lewis, each breast cancer survivors and members of On With Life, hosted a wine tasting at the Truckee River Bar and Grill. The event had wine from Whispering Vine, food from TRGB, and more than 25 silent auction items. More than 180 participants helped to raise $6,800 for Moms on the Run organization. “We know what it was like to deal with cancer, and this organization takes the worry of money away,” Diane added. “It is scary to us that women might cut corners on their treatment because of a lack of money or insurance. That is unacceptable to us.”

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation honored the Reno Hilton for its outstanding financial and volunteer support and Tim Maland, Reno Hilton President, as Man of the Year at a recent Monopoly Gala. Movers and shakers from the Reno area played Monopoly on two enormous game boards with all proceeds going to Juvenile Diabetes Research. Maland said “we’re delighted to be able to have fun and raise money for this important cause at the same time.”

SEVENTH ANNUAL GIRL SCOUT COOKIE CONCOCTION CONTEST
March 10, 2005 — Harrah’s Reno

The Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada hosted a mouth-watering evening called the Seventh Annual Girl Scout Cookie Concoction Contest on March 10 at Harrah’s Reno. The contest is one of the best family-oriented events in the community. Hosts of local area chefs created their own special contest desserts using Girl Scout Cookies. This year’s talented chefs were: Sweets Homemade Candy’s Becky Cavender, Regional Technical Institute’s Fred Wright, Harrah’s Reno’s Cathy Haynes, Montrêux’s Ed Mitchell, UNR’s Chartwell’s’ Darek Miller, TMCC Chartwell’s’ Richard Forsell, Caker and Company’s Valerie Feest, John Ascuaga’s Nugget’s Didier Laborde, Silver Legacy’s Jesus Gutierrez. A celebrity panel judged the chef’s delights, including CeCe Gable, jazz artist; Johnathan Wright, Reno Gazette-Journal food and drink writer; Ondra Berry, deputy Reno police chief; Max Ciampoli de L’Hardonniere, chef; Rudy and Matt, Wild 102.9 Morning Show DJs, Eduardo Wagner, president of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Estela Gutierrez, TMCC manager of Ethnic Community Relations; Teresa Benitez, Miss Nevada 2002; Lucille Adin, president of NAACP Reno/Sparks branch; Harry York, president of Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce. This year’s winners were: Most Creative: Jesus Gutierrez, Silver Legacy (Dessert: Four Cookie Cheese Cake); Best Presentation: Becky Cavendar, Sweets Homemade Candies (Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pizza); Best Taste: Cathy Haynes, Harrah’s Reno (Dessert: Strawberry and Cookie Dreams), People’s Choice Award.

RENO RODEO FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ANOTHER YEAR OF GIVING
March 17, 2005 — Eldorado Hotel & Casino

The Reno Rodeo Foundation held a luncheon to celebrate giving a quarter of a million dollars in donations to local charities in 2004. Representatives from more than a dozen groups were honored as recipients of donations as well as 17 students receiving scholarships. The organization is committed to enhancing and enriching the lives of Northern Nevada families by aiding children with extraordinary needs and building community partnerships, and providing scholarships to the University of Nevada, Reno.

DERBY DAY, A BENEFIT FOR RENO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
May 7, 2005 — Hidden Valley Country Club

The 175 guests drank mint juleps and made their “wagers” on the horses for the 15th annual Reno Chamber Orchestra’s Derby Day fund-raiser. Execuitve Director Scott Faulkner said this year’s event was the most successful ever in raising funds for the RCO. On July 17 and 18, the RCO will perform two concerts as part of the Artown series.

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF RENO PRESENTS THE LAVENDER LUNCHEON
March 12, 2005 —Siena Hotel Spa Casino

The room’s decor was the epitome of femininity, reminiscent of an English tea. Many of the women in attendance wore spring dresses, white gloves, and their own hat creations. Special attention was given to their hat choice as a Best Hat prize was awarded. Booths surrounded the luncheon tables with items for sale and donated items up for auction. According to Heidi Hardison, chairwoman for the Lavender Luncheon, this year’s attendance doubled that of previous years. All proceeds go to the Junior League of Reno and its many causes. The Junior League is committed to developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

CINDERELLA BALL
April 8, 2005 —Reno Hilton Theater

The Cinderella Ball, held on the Reno Hilton Theatre stage, raised more than $10,000 for A.V.A. Ballet Theatre. The money is used for costumes and the group’s future productions. The stage was decorated with one of the old Hello Hollywood sets, making it look like a royal ballroom. Music was provided by the String Beings and two of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters worked the room. There was a silent auction with many great items donated by supporters. The event was tied to the Cinderella Ballet the A.V.A. Ballet Theatre performed at the Pioneer Center on April 23 and 24. After the dinner (a feast of filet mignon and salmon), some of A.V.A. Ballet Artistic Director Alexander Van Alstyne’s dancers performed portions of the Cinderella Ballet to the delight of the crowd.