Gala salutes local efforts to spread literacy
Sharing the magic of books with children was the mission of the 11th annual Spread the Word Nevada gala, held Sept. 15 at The Venetian.
The nonprofit literacy program in Southern Nevada distributes books to elementary schools, giving them the opportunity to develop their own library.
The gala honored SuperPawn, represented by Caroline Ciocca. For the past four years SuperPawn has worked with the Spread the Word team to collect books and raise money.
The evening began with a reception featuring the Coronado High School barbershop quartets, a silent auction, and guests also had the opportunity to get a Clark County library card and purchase bundles of books to go to schools.
The dinner's masters of ceremonies were Marie Mortera, KSNV-TV, Channel 3 anchor, and Kendall Tenney, president of 10e Media. Vocalist Ellie Smith, Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen, entertained attendees.
Susan Miller, board chairwoman, and Michelle Allison, gala committee chairwoman, welcomed the 350 guests, including Assemblywomen Marilyn Dondero Loop, D-Las Vegas; and April Mastroluca, D-Henderson; state Sen. Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas; Clark County Commissioners Chris Giunchigliani and Steve Sisolak.
Also attending were Monte Miller, Judy Reich and Gary Milby, Laurie and John Hartig, Bob Fisher, Eileen and Eric Horn, Irais and Robert Kolesar, Kris Hanson, Kim Stein and Michael Leslie, Jen Fabbi, Haley Neighbors, Rebecca and Tom Fay, Victor Onufrieff, McKenzie and Melissa Warren, Lara Kolberg, Irene and Duncan Lee, Amy Johnson, Richelle Rice, and the Quezada family.
Spread the Word's Executive Director Lisa Habighorst and her husband, Mike Habighorst, also attended.
NV Energy, represented by CEO Michael Yackira, donated a much-needed forklift, and Michael Brown of Barrick Gold Corp. donated $25,000 to sponsor books for a new school.
Auctioneer Christian Kolberg conducted a live auction for 10 packages, which raised $36,750, that included a holiday in a rustic Vermont cottage for $3,000, a week for six in a royal suite at the Pueblo Bonito Rose in Los Cabos, Mexico, for $6,000, and a five-carat diamond tennis bracelet from SuperPawn for $5,000.
