Dream Flight West Coast Foodie tour to raise funds for Las Vegas causes

Much like the rich, now you too can travel by private jet —free.

The Dream Flight, a charitable event to raise funds to help children and at-risk teens by giving away a top prize of a West Coast foodie trip, is set for 7 p.m. May 14 at Cirrus Aircraft Hangar Atlantic – Atlantic Executive Terminal, 275 E. Tropicana Ave.

The event will benefit both Miracle Flights and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

The Dream Flight will see Nevada-based influencers gather for a fundraising event with live musical performances, celebrity appearances, an open bar presented by LVMH brands, a pop-up nightclub and restaurants. Best of all, each event ticket purchased will grant the attendee a chance to win a seat on The Dream Flight, a private jet foodie tour from Las Vegas to San Francisco and Seattle. Proceeds from the event will benefit Nevada Partnership’s 4969 Retrofit Project. A donation will also be given to Miracle Flights, which provides free medical air travel for sick and injured children.

General admission to the fundraiser is $199, which includes the open bar, food samplings and one complimentary entry to win two seats on The Dream Flight.

Arash Ghafoori, Nevada Partnership’s executive director, said he hopes the evening, combined with proceeds from the March 10 Beats & Barrels Whiskey and Wine Event, will result in enough money to renovate and retrofit a 2,000-square-foot building Nevada Partnership owns.

“We’re aiming high and hope to raise about $100,000,” Ghafoori said.

That building is adjacent to its nearly 6,000-square-foot operation at 4981 Shirley St., which is being used as a drop-in center.

“We are bursting at the seams,” said Ghafoori. “Plus, we’re expanding our age range later this year to include homeless youths up to age 24.”

The roughly 2,000-square-foot building next door will focus on this older demographic and offer intake and outreach services.

While both units have “respite” facilities where the homeless youths can nap, neither is considered a shelter, which would require overnight sleeping accommodations. Nevada Partnership has separate facilities off-site at an undisclosed location for that.

The upscale event also will tap into a batch of possible new donors for Nevada Partnership.

“This really spices up events, changes them up so this is not the typical formula fundraiser with the wine and the silent auction,” Ghafoori said. “But rather do something different where there’s not just a good cause but a great opportunity — an event that distinguishes itself in the sea of all the other nonprofit events. We wanted to create an experience for people. … And they’ll have the opportunity to learn more about youth homelessness and how it’s important. It’ll really highlight the issue.”

Mark Brown, national CEO of Miracle Flights, said the organization averages 550 to 700 flights a month to send children to get medical attention. The group began as Angel Flight, which used private planes, but it broke off to form its own organization. Miracle Flights books seats for the child and their parents on commercial airlines.

“We’re really the only national charity that’s homegrown and housed here in Las Vegas,” he said. “… The average cost of our flight is about $500 round trip. That’s why we’re so excited about this event. It’s another source of potential funds, and it’s such a cool concept, the opportunity to get that amazing flight, the private jet flight. So, there’s that aviation tie-in.

He said the hope was to get long-term support. In his short time heading the organization — he took over in November 2015— he’s learned of Valery Muniz, 9, from Las Vegas, who had an operation in Austin, Texas. When she was born, her right arm was jammed in the birth canal, causing partial paralysis. The operation allowed her to be able to use that arm for the first time.

Her parents invited Miracle Flight representatives to a family member’s business, a taco stand, for a celebration.

“The bravery that these little kids demonstrate is what’s really touched me,” Brown said. “And these parents, a lot of times, they’re at the end of their rope. The thought of having to figure out how they’re going to fly their child and themselves to a hospital or doctor that in some cases may be all the way across the country, they’re so grateful to have us step in and take that huge expense and that emotional burden off their plate.”

General admission to The Dream Flight event is $210.94, and VIP admission, including admission at 6 p.m. for a special VIP tour, VIP lounge access, three entries for two seats on the flight, a VIP gift bag and a VIP performance, is $350. Guests must be 21 or older and must be present to enter and win seats on The Dream Flight.

For tickets to The Dream Flight event, visit thedreamflight2016.eventbrite.com.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.