Spread the Word Nevada Announces Two New Board Members

Posted on by Joseph Hensel

For Immediate Release

Contact: Vicki Soares
702-203-0002

Spread the Word Nevada Announces Two New Board Members

Las Vegas (December xx, 2017) – Spread the Word Nevada (STWN), the largest children’s literacy non-profit in the state is growing its Board of Directors by adding two new members.

Joining the Board of Directors are Chad Leavitt and Crystal Lone. Leavitt is the Chief Accounting Officer for Findlay Automotive Group. Lone is the CEO of Lone Mortgage.

“I am thrilled that both Chad and Crystal are joining our robust Board of Directors,” said STWN Executive Director Lisa Habighorst. “They each bring a very dynamic and community minded point of view to the group and we are elated to continue to expand our reach and awareness.”

Current Board Members include:
Chairman of the Board – Jean LaPlaca, Majestic Realty Co.
Vice Chairman – Michelle Allison, The Allison Law Firm Chtd.
Secretary – Lindsey Slanker, October, Inc.
Treasurer – Angelo Ruccia, KG&R Bookkeeping Solutions
Thelma Abril – Entravision Communications
David Berkowitz – US Bank
Carol Cline-Ong – MDL Group
Ryan Draney – Children’s Community Advocate
Vic Gallo – American Gaming Systems
Kris Hanson – Capco Tile
Kris Hipwell – Children’s Community Advocate
Chad Leavitt – Findlay Automotive Group
Crystal Lone – Lone Mortgage
Jeanette Schneider – U.S. Trust, Bank of America
Monte Smith – Brown & Brown Insurance of Nevada
Kurt Trombetti – Enviro Safe Pest Control

About Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word Nevada, Inc., is a children’s literacy nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada’s at-risk, low income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 4.2 million gently used and new books to approximately 497,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada. Please visit www.SpreadTheWordNevada.org to learn more about program details or call at (702) 564-7809. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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AGS Fosters Literacy at Griffith Elementary School

Posted on by Joseph Hensel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AGS Fosters Literacy at Griffith Elementary School through Spread the Word Nevada Partnership

LAS VEGAS, August 31, 2017 – AGS, a Las Vegas-based casino gaming supplier, announced today that it has adopted Griffith Elementary School, located in Las Vegas, through a partnership with Spread the Word Nevada (STWN), the largest children’s literacy non-profit in the State. Through this adoption, AGS will donate $25,000 to provide Griffith Elementary with STWN programs and offer hands-on support throughout the 2017/18 school year.

“One of our core values at AGS is the ‘Spirit of Service’,” said Julia Boguslawski, Chief Marketing Officer for AGS. “We recently surveyed our team members to identify what philanthropic causes were most near and dear to their hearts. Overwhelmingly, the results proved that we are most passionate about helping our local communities, specifically children in need and promoting education. We are so pleased to work with Spread the Word Nevada to foster literacy at Griffith Elementary.”

The adoption formally kicked off today, August 31, during a special event at Griffith Elementary where AGS team members, school administrators, and STWN officials announced the news to students. During the event, students received a new “library” tote bag and chose five books to create a library of their own. Once a month during the school year, students get to select one more book to add to their libraries. In addition, the school will receive Breakfast with Books, a family literacy program that encourages reading with children in the home. Each month, students and their families are invited to share in a light breakfast and story time. Every person in attendance also selects a book to keep.

Griffith Elementary is one of hundreds in the Clark County School District with a Title 1 designation, meaning that a high number of children attending the school are from low-income families and receive free/reduced lunch program support. STWN programs serve 48 at-risk elementary schools throughout Southern Nevada with a population of 37,700 students. The adopted schools have an average of 92% participation rate in the free/reduced lunch program and many of them have never owned a book of their own.

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About AGS
AGS LLC, is a full-service designer and manufacturer of gaming products for the casino floor. The Company’s roots are in the Class II, Native American market, and it has expanded its offerings to include top-performing slot games for the Class III commercial marketplace as well as specialty table game products, B2B social casino products, and B2C social casino games.

About Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word Nevada, Inc., is a children’s literacy nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada’s at-risk, low-income communities. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 4 million gently used and new books to approximately 467,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada.

Media Contacts
Julia Boguslawski – AGS
(702) 724-1125
jboguslawski@playags.com

Vicki Soares – STWN
(702) 203-0002
vicki@spreadthewordnevada.org

Windsong Trust Grants Spread the Word Nevada $185,000

Posted on by Joseph Hensel

For Immediate Release

Windsong Trust Grants Spread the Word Nevada $185,000

Thousands of At-Risk Children Will Receive the
Gift of Reading

Las Vegas – Henderson, NV (August 9, 2017) – Spread the Word Nevada (STWN) receives $185,000 grant from the Windsong Trust. This is the seventh consecutive year Windsong Trust grants a generous donation to STWN to advocate for childhood literacy. This year grant allowing the nonprofit to grow these three unique literacy programs – Kids to Kids, Breakfast with Books, and Books on Break.

  • Kids to Kids and Breakfast with Books – Book Distributions to create home libraries – $125,000 for on-going support for five at-risk elementary schools: Cortez, Lake, Pittman, Sewell and Squires
  • Technology – $35,000 for new warehouse technology supporting automation
  • Books on Break – Summer reading program – $25,000

“This generous grant is life-changing to our community’s most vulnerable children,” said Lisa Habighorst, STWN Executive Director. “Windsong Trust has been our long standing community partner as we sustain and continue to expand our literacy services and book distributions to our low-income children across Southern Nevada.”

About Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word Nevada, Inc., is a children’s literacy nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada’s at-risk, low income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 4 million gently used and new books to approximately 467,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada. Please visit www.SpreadTheWordNevada.org to learn more about program details or call at (702) 564-7809. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Media Contact
Vicki Soares (702) 203-0002
Vicki@spreadthewordnevada.org

Andrew Family Foundation Grants $50,000 to Spread the Word Nevada

Posted on by Joseph Hensel

For Immediate Release

Andrew Family Foundation Grants $50,000 to Spread the Word Nevada
Grant to benefit the organization’s Books & Buddies Program

Las Vegas – Henderson, NV (August 4, 2017) – Spread the Word Nevada (STWN) has been selected by the Andrew Family Foundation as the recipient of a $50,000 grant to continue to support the nonprofit’s Books & Buddies Mentor Centers at Jack Dailey and Will Beckley Elementary Schools for the 2017/18 school year.

Since Spread the Word Nevada’s inception in 2001, 48 schools have been adopted and more than 467,000 youth have been served throughout Southern Nevada.

“We understand first-hand the benefit of having a dedicated location for mentors and buddies to meet on a consistent basis and are excited to continue our support of STWN’s impactful program,” said Andrew Family Foundation’s Laurel Andrew.

While in the Books & Buddies program, at-risk students are assessed on words correct per minute, accuracy and comprehension for increase in literacy achievements. Working together, the mentor and student focus on improving the student’s reading proficiency, comprehension and oral reading skills.

“This generous grant will allow these Mentor Centers to provide extra one-on-one attention to improve reading and comprehension skills of our struggling readers,” said Lisa Habighorst, STWN Executive Director. “These centers are facilitated by our staff and students are mentored by our dedicated volunteers/buddies.”

About Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word Nevada, Inc., is a children’s literacy nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada’s at-risk, low income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 3.9 million gently used and new books to approximately 467,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada. Please visit www.SpreadTheWordNevada.org to learn more about program details or call at (702) 564-7809. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact
Vick Soares (702) 203-0002
Vicki@spreadthewordnevada.org

MGM Resorts Foundation Grants $50,000 to Spread the Word Nevada

Posted on by Joseph Hensel

For Immediate Release

MGM Resorts Foundation Grants $50,000 to Spread the Word Nevada
Grant to benefit the Organization’s Breakfast with Books Program

Las Vegas – Henderson, NV (June 28, 2017) – Spread the Word Nevada (STWN) has been selected by MGM Resorts Foundation’s Community Grant Council as the recipient of a $50,000 grant to fund the nonprofit’s Family Literacy Program – Breakfast with Books.

“Breakfast with Books is an excellent example of the MGM Resorts Foundation’s commitment to strengthening families,” said Lisa Habighorst, Executive Director of Spread the Word Nevada. “Our program fosters positive parenting by providing the tools and support to help parents guide their children to literacy, while simultaneously engaging the children in activities which create a life long love of reading that will broaden their academic and economic opportunities. Reading together as a family activity can be a bonding experience. When parents are involved in their children’s education, both children and parents will benefit.”

The goal of Breakfast with Books is to enable at-risk students to improve their reading skills to the point where they can succeed in school and develop the abilities that will prepare them for high school and post secondary education. Studies have shown that poor readers, who are behind in reading a grade level or more, are more likely to be disruptive in the classroom, truant from school, and at risk of dropping out of high school. (The Literacy Company, Enhanced Reading & Literacy Research).

The MGM Resorts Foundation, a Nevada non-profit corporation receives donations through MGM employee charitable contributions, which supports other non-profit agencies and community organizations to fulfill its mission of “Building a Stronger Community.”

“Reading at a young age is critical to a child’s long-term success,” says Shelley Gitomer, MGM Resorts’ vice president of philanthropy and community engagement. “Studies show that children who read do better in school; they have higher retention rates and make better grades than children who don’t read. Education is a critical need in Nevada, so we think it’s important to support Spread the Word Nevada.”

About Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word Nevada, Inc., is a children’s literacy nonprofit, 501(c) (3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Southern Nevada’s at-risk, low income communities. While developing a love of reading, these libraries promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, which impacts lifelong success. Since 2001, Spread the Word Nevada has distributed more than 3.9 million gently used and new books to approximately 467,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada. Please visit www.SpreadTheWordNevada.org to learn more about program details or call at (702) 564-7809. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About The MGM Resorts Foundation
The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by
MGM Resorts employees. In addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and organized by
MGM Resorts employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations designated by the Foundation’s Board.

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Media Contact
Vicki Soares (702) 203-0002
Vicki@spreadthewordnevada.org