Leadership Henderson fundraiser benefits foundation that encourages kindness

The current class of Leadership Henderson held its Biddin' for Bottles fundraiser Feb. 26 to benefit the Josh Stevens Foundation and Burkholder Middle School .

"It is an event held every year where Leadership Henderson raises money for a nonprofit ," said Rebecca Fay, foundation administrator for the Henderson Business Resource Center, 112 S. Water St., Suite 101, and Leadership Henderson director. "It's a huge success."

Leadership Henderson is a civic organization that helps develop leaders who already are shaping the community.

About 100 people attended the event at Grape Expectations , 1971 Whitney Mesa Drive, raising more than $3,000. The event allowed guests to sample and bid on their favorite bottles of wine .

The Stevens Foundation plans to use the proceeds to develop a peace garden at Burkholder Middle School, 355 W. Van Wagenen St., in honor of Josh Stevens, who died Sept. 5, 2008, in a golf cart accident .

Although he was only 12, Josh left a legacy of kindess and love that his parents, Drew and Barbara, said inspired and affected people around him.

The Josh Stevens Foundation was created by Josh's parents and gives out "You've Been Caught Being Kind" gift cards to people who perform acts of kindness.

When caught doing something kind in school, youths are given a trifold gift card that includes a poem about the significance of their act, Josh's story, a silicone shoelace charm and shoelace and a $5 gift card to various businesses.

"Drew and Barbara Stevens are keeping his memory and mission of kindness alive through the Josh Stevens Foundation," Fay said. "The program has been adopted by many schools in Southern Nevada."

Since its inception, more than 7,000 children have been caught doing something kind.

By adding the peace garden, which will be called the Kindness Preserve, the foundation hopes to spread its mission .

Fay said the garden also will serve as an outdoor, living classroom for Burkholder students .

The project is slated to be completed in April.

"As the reality of budget cuts hits our schools, I think everyone can use an extra dose of kindness," said Rebecca O'Meara, a teacher at Burkholder. "Burkholder Middle School strongly supports the message of the Josh Steven s Foundation, and we hope to do our part in helping the kindness legacy live on."

Fay said Leadership Henderson is composed of 20 people from various skill levels and backgrounds.

"Leadership Henderson's mission is to strengthen the community by strengthening our leaders," Fay said.

Each year, the new class must oversee a community project before graduating from the program in May.

"This class, like the class before, has done amazing things for Henderson residents and businesses by way of their community project," Fay said.

After receiving proposals from several Henderson organizations, this class chose the Josh Stevens Foundation. This was Leadership Henderson's first time working with the foundation.

"The Josh Stevens Foundation remains grateful to both Burkholder Middle School and Leadership Henderson for their enthusiastic embrace of our belief and mission on spreading kindness," Drew Stevens said . "Our community is filled with people who care about what is most important in life -- striving to live by the golden rule ."

For more information about the Josh Stevens Foundation, visit joshstevens
foundation.org.

Contact Henderson and Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.