Funds from Pardee sales benefit Shade Tree Shelter

Pardee Homes has donated $5,500 to The Shade Tree Shelter for homeless women and their children.

The sum is based on the company's commitment to give $500 for each home sold during the holidays in selected Pardee neighborhoods in southwestern Las Vegas, according to Pardee regional sales director Rob Tuvell.

"This marks the 13th year of significant support from Pardee Homes," said Mike Darley, president of the Board of Trustees for The Shade Tree. "It means even more to us this year because, unfortunately, donations have dwindled due to the economy."

Darley credits companies such as Pardee for helping the shelter provide its services to women and children in crisis in Southern Nevada.

"It's truly amazing what this place does, and anyone who sees it first-hand understands the importance of their mission," Tuvell said.

Located in downtown Las Vegas at 1 West Owens Ave., The Shade Tree provides more than 80,000 nights of shelter each year to more than 4,100 abused and homeless women and children of this community, and serves another 15,000 through day shelter.

"While 33 percent of our clients are children under the age of 18, senior citizens represent the fastest growing segment of our population," Darley said.

"They all owe special thanks to Pardee Homes for their continued support of our growing program."

The Shade Tree mission is to provide a safe 24-hour accessible shelter for homeless women and children in crisis in the Las Vegas area and assist them in taking their first steps toward independent living.

In addition, The Shade Tree recently opened "Noah's Animal House" to provide shelter for family pets from abusive households.

Clark County's only 24-hour accessible emergency shelter for women and mothers with children, The Shade Tree was officially founded in 1990, after serving those in need from the basement of St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Eastern Avenue.

In late November 1989, the temperatures dropped below freezing and 15 homeless and abused women and children were given shelter in the church basement where they were protected from the weather and from the violence on the streets, according to Darley.

Now housed in the largest shelter of its kind in the state, The Shade Tree's 38,000-square-foot facility also provides services such as laundry and bathing facilities, crisis intervention, job skills development, meals and nutritional counseling, mental health referral, access to medical care, immunizations and after school and weekend activities for the children. Call 385-0072 to find out how you can help.

One of the West's largest home builders, Pardee Homes has built homes and communities for more than 35,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952.