Station Casinos program partners properties with at-risk schools

At-risk students got a boost Oct. 14 when Station Casinos handed out more than $50,000 in support to 10 primary schools through its annual Smart Start incentive.

The funds were announced during a breakfast event at Red Rock Resort, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd. Smart Start began in 2000 and has contributed $2.5 million in support to high-need elementary schools.

“The idea started with our owners, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta,” said Lori Nelson, spokeswoman for Station Casinos. “They wanted to do more in the public education arena. So they sat down with Clark County School District leadership and asked the question, ‘If you want to make the biggest impact, where is that?’ ”

The School District wanted to see good habits start early, ensuring that more students graduated, thus the name of the partnership: Smart Start. School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky said the donation was especially important in difficult times.

“The boost to the budget is appreciated,” he said. “Partnerships like this literally change the lives of children.”

As part of Smart Start, each Station Casinos property is paired with an at-risk elementary school. Station’s employees volunteer hundreds of hours each year for various efforts — back-to-school supply drives, serving as homework helpers and providing food for teacher appreciation events. Sometimes the children come to the properties for back-of-the-house tours to learn of career possibilities, or they are introduced to proper etiquette by attending teaching luncheons.

“The idea is: Don’t just cut a check but make change throughout the year,” Nelson said.

The 10 schools that received funds are: Bell Elementary School, 2900 Wilmington Way (partnered with Palace Station); Dearing Elementary School, 3046 Ferndale St. (partnered with Boulder Station); Detwiler Elementary School, 1960 Ferrell St. (partnered with Fiesta Rancho); Diskin Elementary School, 4220 Ravenwood Drive (partnered with Red Rock Resort); Fitzgerald Elementary School, 2651 Revere St. (partnered with Santa Fe Station); Hollingsworth Elementary School, 1776 E. Ogden Ave. (partnered with Sunset Station); Sewell Elementary School, 700 E. Lake Mead Drive (partnered with Fiesta Henderson); Squires Elementary School, 1312 E. Tonopah Ave. (partnered with Texas Station); Whitney Elementary School, 5005 Keenan Ave. (partnered with Station Casinos/Wildfire Gaming); and Robert L. Taylor Elementary School, 144 Westminster Way (partnered with Green Valley Ranch Resort).

In September, Station’s employee school supply drive resulted in hundreds of backpacks, hand sanitizers and boxes of tissues and thousands of boxes of crayons, pencils, glue sticks, notebooks and erasers.

Diskin Elementary principal Beth Smith said Station’s employees not only came through with school supplies last December but stepped up to the plate for the Angel Tree, where economically disadvantaged children can ask for a specific present. She had one student who’d been living in a refugee camp in Africa. His sole wish was for a bicycle. Station Casinos came through for him.

“When he saw that bike, he was ecstatic,” Smith said. “Of course, he had to learn how to ride it.”

Station’s employees also provide weekend food for those on the free lunch program. Hollingsworth Elementary principal Shaun Cochran Hall said other help has come in the form of coats and sweaters for children who don’t have any.

Not all of the help is for students. Knowing four of her teachers were moving from out of state and wouldn’t get a paycheck for a while, Cochran Hall asked for $400 in gift cards so they could buy groceries.

“I know they appreciated that,” she said. “Station, I love them.”

Besides the $50,000 donation, Communities In Schools of Nevada received a $2,500 donation for school uniforms.

Each of the 10 schools will receive a $5,000 donation, administered through The Public Education Foundation. Schools are required to use the funds to help meet the goals they set forth in their individual School Improvement Plan required annually by the School District.

Contact Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.