Holiday event recognizes Junior League’s generosity

The Sustainers of the Junior League of Las Vegas held their annual Holiday Coffee for active members of the League and their guests on Dec. 12 at the lovely Summerlin home of Karissa and Albert Mack.

During the past 68 years, Junior League of Las Vegas has achieved its mission by providing thousands of volunteer hours to community projects, programs and legislative activities benefiting Nevada's citizens.

The Holiday Coffee is an opportunity to personally thank League members and friends for adopting a Bear (child) this holiday season.

The Bear Committee visited three at-risk elementary schools to take measurements of the children and talk about their wish lists for Santa.

Sustainers of Junior League then shop and purchase 10 gifts for each child: one shirt, one pair of pants, one jacket, one pair of pajamas, a package of underwear, a package of socks, a pair of shoes, two toys and a book.

The committee delivers the filled Santa bags to the schools to be given to the parents before Christmas break.

This was the 29th year of the Adopt-A-Bear Project; in all, 241 bears were adopted.

Chairing the 50-member Bear Committee were Judy Beal and Susan Kubat.

Receiving the active members and their guests at the party were Sustainer President Melissa Scott, Actives President Lori Smith, Holiday Coffee Chairwomen Sally Rycroft and Michele Shafe, and hostess Karissa Mack.

Presiding at coffee and tea tables were past presidents of Junior League: Sharon Beatty, Sherry Layne, Janice Allen, Donna Levy, Kristina Swallow, Jeanette Clark and Melinda Johnson.

Serving punch were: Lisa McAnallen, Britta Carlson-Sessoms and DeDee Nave.

Background music was holiday selections played by flutists Dafne Guevara and Rodrigo Corral from UNLV.

Seen socializing were Thalia Dondero, Chrystal Sedger, Vivienne Morris Ross, Nancy Gasho-Fromm, Sandy Litton, Liz Gibson, Cheryl Purdue, Nicole Rogers, LuAnn Kutrch, Carol Maxey, Caroline Sparks, Betsy Rhodes, Jeri Crawford, Sherry Colquitt, Kathleen Mahon and Katie Decker.

Culinary arts of the Northwest Career & Technical Academy served Parmesan cups of Caesar Salad, canapes of bacon-wrapped dates, quiche, couscous, petit cucumber and egg salad sandwiches. The outdoor kitchen made cooked-to-order omelets and crepes. An array of delectable sweets such as mini eclairs, cream puffs, lemon bars, cupcakes and canolli also were served.

Other guests included Bonnie Bryan, Lou Schwager, Vicki Ham, Sharon Schmitt, Beverly Dix, Donna Levy, Linda Givens and Dede Slakey. Also seen among the 250-plus guests were Shelli Lowe, Barbara Barron, Lois Zellers, Shirley Shupe, Bobbie Gang, Carole Terry, Gale Northcross, Jaymie Morris and Debbie Levy.