Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation honors teenagers

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation honored four teens at its 2007 Profiles of Courage Dinner Gala Nov. 17 at The Mirage.

Alexa Walker, 15, and Royce Henderson, 18, were named Children of Courage. Alexa and Royce are both cancer survivors and were recognized for their bravery while coping with a critical illness.

Lauren Lebby, 18, received the Colleen Alenik Teen Spirit Award. A student at the University of Nevada, Reno, Lauren received a $3,000 scholarship given in memory of Alenik, a director of Camp Cartwheel, the foundation's camp for children. Alenik lost her battle with cancer in 2005.

At the gala, Monique Rubi was memorialized as Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation's Special Angel. Monique lost her battle with cancer in March at the age of 16.

The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aids local families with children who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, renal disorders and other illnesses.

In other youth news:

* Helen Joy's Young Entertainers and Tony Sacca performed holiday music for White House staff members and guests on Dec. 8. In addition, the 16 youths ranging in age from 5 to 16 also performed for Sen. Harry Reid and his staff on Dec. 7. Helen Joy's Young Entertainers also toured the White House and the Capitol. The trip was funded by the Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts, and Sacca's fundraising Christmas TV special "Merry Christmas Las Vegas."

* Allen Isaacson, 13, recently completed filming the feature film "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry."

The film, which follows three friends who mature over the summer before they begin high school, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008 and co-stars Gavin MacLeod and Robert Guillaume.

Allen, a student at Las Vegas Day School, has been attending Kim Flowers Talent Development Academy for four years and has been featured in television commercials for Disney and Nickelodeon.

* The Girl Scouts of Frontier Council donated 4,000 books to support SMART's tutoring program on Dec. 13.

The program, which began in June, is a joint partnership through Nevada State College's School of Education and the Housing Authority of the city of Las Vegas. Through the program, Nevada State College students provide free tutoring services to elementary school-age children in public housing.

If you know of a worthy candidate for this column, mail information to Youth Spotlight, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, or send faxes to 383-4676.