Adopt-a-Bear Project benefits underprivileged children

The sustaining members of the Junior League of Las Vegas hosted their annual Holiday Coffee Dec. 10 at the beautiful Canyon Fairways home of Donna and Michael Levy.

Active and sustainer league members and their guests were welcomed at the door by Junior League President Laura Schmitt, sustainers' President Melinda McGeorge Johnson, and coffee co-chairwomen Sheryl Slakey and Donna Levy.

The Holiday Coffee is a thank-you for members who sponsored the Sustainers Adopt-a-Bear Project.

Members and friends of the league adopt a child (bear) and provide 10 holiday-wrapped gifts including new pants, shirt, sweatshirt, socks, underwear, pajamas, shoes, and two toys and a book each child had on his or her list for Santa.

Bear Chairwoman Judy Beal and her committee deliver the filled Santa bags back to the chosen schools to be given to the parents before Christmas break.

The Bear Project has been spearheaded by the sustainers for 24 years, reaching more than 7,000 underprivileged students in our community.

Christmas trees and large florals of evergreens and red roses filled the rooms of the Levy home as guests Caty Crockett, Sandy Windom, Lynn Buchanan, Dedee Nave, Nancy Bentley, Sharon Schmitt, Sandra Litton, Monterey Brookman, Beverly Daly-Dix and Denise Cashman with daughter Samantha socialized.

Past presidents presiding at the tea and coffee tables were Betsy Rhodes, Sharon Beatty, Janice Allen, Madeleine Andress, Lynda Wohletz and Lisa McAnallen.

Punch was served by the sustainers past presidents Louise Helton, Suzanne VanAken and Debbie Levy.

Pianist Shelley Valdes played seasonal music at the baby grand.

Students from the Northwest Career & Technical Academy served delicious appetizers, sweets and cooked-to-order strawberry and chocolate crepes to members Bonnie Bryan, Nancy Corrigan, Jani Titus, Sally Rycroft, Wendy Kalb, Linda Givens, Sally McKinney, Nancy Shepherd, Carole Terry, Lore Gochnour, Patsy Brinton, Lou Schwager, Yvonne Gragson, Linda Leavitt, Kellie Guild, Elizabeth Foyt, Dede Slakey, Lois Zellers, Ruth Lillis, Carolyn Sparks, Francine Pulliam and Nancy Gasho-Fromm.

Other guests attending were Gale Northcross, Sherry Colquitt, Vivienne Morris-Ross, Jaymie Morris, Margy Purdue-Johnson, Jan Nitz, Stacey Albregts, Saundra Richardson and Priscilla Scalley.