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Media Conference Tuesday,
December 23, 2008 at 12:00
Noon to be held at the Lutheran Social Services of
Nevada located at 51 N Pecos, Suite #12, Las Vegas, 89101.
First Lady Dawn Gibbons will announce a $250,000 donation from
the Crescere Foundation and $65,000 in food products from Vons
Grocery Stores.
(December 23rd,
2008 - Las Vegas, NV)
Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons has secured a private grant of
$250,000 from the Crescere Foundation that will be directed to
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada in Las Vegas. Mrs. Gibbons
has also enlisted corporations to give in this time of need.
Vons stores in Las Vegas have answered that challenge with over
$65,000 in food that will be delivered in the next two weeks to
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN).
“Dawn Gibbons
really is Nevada’s
Angel”, said Beverly Ozmun, President of the Crescere
Foundation,
"Dawn sees Nevadans are hurting.” The First Lady
is actively supporting Nevadans’ by creating a menu of
opportunities for caring citizens to give effectively and she’s
facilitating and encouraging our giving. In
Nevada, we can ensure that those who
have lost their jobs can seek and receive services with dignity
and compassion. There’s no shame in seeking help. It is a
priority of (this) foundation to preserve individuals’
self-worth while offering them a helping hand in a dignified
manner. LSSN does that.” Ms. Ozmun adds, “This Christmas we're
working with the First Lady and Vons’s in encouraging charitable
foundations, businesses, churches and individuals throughout
Nevada
to increase giving at every level during this time of hardship.”
According to First Lady Gibbons, many of Nevada’s
newly jobless fall into the category of being ‘transitionally
unemployed’ and that most of these individuals don't know what
services are available to them or how to navigate the
complicated system of unemployment benefits, food stamps and
more.
"Las Vegas is a magnifying glass of the nation.
If we wait for government to act, it will take too long for many
Nevadans. If we do it as private individuals and businesses, it
can happen now,” said First Lady Dawn Gibbons. “We can make a
significant impact by providing services in a supportive setting
for the 'transitionally unemployed' and leading by example. The
generous gift from the Crescere Foundation and the Vons Grocery
Stores will provide a stop-gap of critical services to stabilize
our citizens through this trying economic period,” adds First
Lady Gibbons.
Safeway/Vons Grocery
Stores echo that sentiment of providing product assistance right
away. “Now more than ever, helping individuals and families
during the holidays and throughout the year are a critical part
of our (Safeway/Vons) community-based initiatives,” said
Executive Vice President and Safeway Foundation Chair Larree
Renda in November about their chain-wide giving campaign. Renda
says now, "Vons Grocery Stores are happy to join the generous
contribution of the Crescere Foundation
by providing food.
Las Vegas is a great place to do business. We are honored and
pleased to be part of a workable solution for providing this
help for Nevada families. Given the current economic climate
and the growing need, we are picking up the pace of our regional
campaigns designed to provide an opportunity for our employees
and customers to pitch in and make the holidays a little better
for people in need”.
“We have to get the
message out to Nevadans through the media,” said Dianemarie
Collins of DM Productions LLC. “Our firm is donating our public
relations services to help the First Lady promote this ‘campaign
of giving’ in support of Nevadans. This campaign requires a
solid team effort and we are pleased to help”.
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada has the staff
and proven systems in place to provide valuable services to
Nevadans. They are a frontrunner service provider in Las
Vegas. “At Lutheran Social Services, you can see firsthand that
picking out one's own groceries is very appealing for people
that suddenly find themselves unemployed. “Maintaining one’s
self esteem and having choices are priorities when dealing with
this economic crisis”, adds Dawn.
“There has been a drastic increase in the number
of people who need our services … in fact, there has been a
doubling of the people in need over the past two months”, said
Armena Mkhitaryan, executive director of Lutheran Social
Services of Nevada. “We couldn't continue to meet these needs
without the gift from the Crescere Foundation. We are also very
thankful for Vons’ generous donation of $65,000 worth of food
products. With these two donations, Lutheran Social Services of
Nevada is going to be able to provide 20,000 pounds of food per
month right here in Las Vegas”.
First Lady Dawn Gibbons adds, “The
‘transitionally unemployed’ are growing in numbers as is their
fear and suffering. We all need to give what we can … and now.
Private dollars, large and small, product donations, and
volunteers working with Nevada’s charities will enable us to
survive this economic downturn intact. I want to thank the many
people that have already stepped up to offer Nevadans hope in
this increasing budgetary crisis”.
"The holiday season is a time to remember the
many Las Vegas residents that are out of work and need our
help”, said Nevada Assemblyman Mo Denis. “I urge my fellow
citizens to give freely during this difficult financial climate
of our state”.
Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen agrees, "Never before
has it been more important to step up to the plate and help each
other”, adds Kihuen. “As the representative of this area, I
have personally witnessed the immediate need for help with rent,
utilities, food, transportation and other vital services”.
About Nevada’s First Lady Dawn Gibbons
Nevada’s First Lady
Dawn Gibbons achievements include spearheading the Crystal
Darkness Campaign (Against Methamphetamine Abuse), now in
fifteen states; the Honorary Chair of Nevada Volunteers; and a
strong advocate for Autism through the Autism Coalition of
Nevada. Dawn actively supports the American Red Cross,
AmeriFace, Susan G. Komen Foundation, March of Dimes, The
Transplant Network, and many other worthy causes impacting the
quality of life for Nevadans.
http://firstlady.state.nv.us
ABOUT SAFEWAY
Safeway Inc. is a
Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug
retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates
1,738 stores in the United States and western Canada and had
annual sales of $42.3 billion in 2007. Safeway supports a broad
range of charitable and community programs and in 2007 donated
more than $172 million to important causes, such as cancer
research, education, hunger relief and programs focused on
assisting people with disabilities.
www.Safeway.com
About Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
We realize that
everyone faces hard times. The people that we serve may be
experiencing a short term financial setback due to losing their
job, death of a family member, health issues, or for any number
of reasons they need our help. We exist to help people by giving
them a "hand up" to see them through their crisis with
compassion and dignity. To honor their dreams and goals by
providing services that provide a clear path toward self
sufficiency. Since 1997, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada has
cared for and served over 125,000 families in need by providing
essential services in the form of emergency food, clothing,
health, shelter and transitional housing, supportive services
including financial assistance, case management, education
programming and "wrap-around" care. Women, men, children, youth
and seniors are served Monday-Friday. You can donate directly
to Lutheran Social Services of Nevada at
http://www.lssnv.org/secure_donate.php
ABOUT DM PRODUCTIONS LLC
DM Productions LLC
is a limited liability company with offices in the Reno/Lake
Tahoe region and in Phoenix. With nearly 20 years of
experience, DM Productions LLC helps companies of all sizes and
industries achieve their marketing goals through smart strategic
thinking and effective creative solutions. As a full service
firm DM Productions LLC provides a complete range of strategic
marketing and communication services, including creative
development, branding, advertising, public relations, media
planning, promotions, production and post-production services,
government affairs, event management and dynamic web design.
More information is available at their Website:
www.dmproductionsllc.com
or call
775-825-1727
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