Cancer foundation’s gala honors profiles of courage

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation honored the children it serves as well as its supporters during its 17th Annual Profiles of Courage gala dinner and auction Nov. 20 at Bellagio. All proceeds from the event will benefit the foundation's Project ARK (Aid and Resources for Kids), the social, psychological, emotional, educational and financial support services for families of children suffering from cancer and life-threatening illnesses.

The cocktail reception offered a silent auction with musical accompaniment by pianist Danny Wright, followed by dinner and a program for the 600 guests including Linda and Mike Leavitt, Joan and Jim Hammer, Sharry and Tim Quillin, Sallie Doebler, Arlene Bordinhao, Talisa Pino, Cindy Pino, Michael Roberson, Mandi Rollman, Cindy and Bill Brady, Nadia Khan, Karen Diamond, and Jessica and Eric Bello.

Masters of ceremonies were Casey Smith of KTNV-TV, Channel 13, and Kim Sherwood of Creative Vision Communications. The program opened with a solo performance by Daniel Emmet Shipley, who was joined by the cancer foundation's Voices of Youth, a vocal ensemble made up of teens from Southern Nevada who support the group through music.

Welcoming remarks were made by Scot Silber, chairman of the board. He introduced the video of the Danny Gans Memorial Champions Run for Life. The evening honored several heroes ­-- children who are in the foundation's programs -- for their strength and courage. Kimberly Smith presented a Child of Courage Award to 18-year-old Allison DeSoto. Allison graduated from the College of Southern Nevada High School with an honor's diploma and 40 college credits when she was diagnosed with leukemia last year.

Maria Howsoney presented a Child of Courage Award to 9-year-old Luis Margarito, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He has endured five years of treatment and continues to be a good student with the fight to survive.

Jeffrey Gordon, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation president and chief executive officer, made the presentation of the Special Angel Award to the late Brooke Alexander. Last year at the age of 6, Brooke died during aggressive treatment for a brain tumor. Accepting Brooke's award was her family.

Gordon also presented a Child of Courage Award to Emily Delgado, who at age 6 was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She began treatment at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and today she is in the foundation's education program, which is taught by Lenny Ware.

Gordon presented the Community Angel Award to Steven Wilson, president of Pahor Mechanical Contractors; the Volunteer of the Year Award to Liberty Leavitt, recruiting coordinator for Advanced Technologies Academy; and the Health Care Professional of the Year Award to Kisha Williams, pediatric emergency room nurse.

Lenny Ware, the foundation's director of education, presented the Student of the Year Award to Justin Williams, a student at Rancho High School who is being treated for bone cancer in his left leg. The Colleen Alenik Teen Spirit Scholarship went to Teen Ambassador Daniel Emmet Shipley.

Auctioneer Christian Kolberg conducted a live auction for nine items that raised $39,750.