Summerlin bestows gift

Nevada Blind Children's Foundation, a resource library for blind and visually impaired children, is the recipient of the eighth annual Summerlin Community Gift.

The foundation operates the state's first resource library for blind children and their families that includes Braille books and educational books and materials for parents of blind children.

The foundation also oversees and operates support groups for parents and families of blind children.

The Summerlin Community Gift is a holiday giving program in which Summerlin residents nominate and select a local charitable organization to receive a $5,000 donation from The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the Summerlin master-planned community.

According to Tom Warden, vice president of community and government relations for Hughes Corp., Summerlin residents play an integral role in the process.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Summerlin residents to reach out to the community at large," Warden said. "Each year, we receive scores of nominations from community residents representing dozens of nonprofit organizations in the greater Las Vegas Valley, and this year was no exception. We received more than 60 nominations of Southern Nevada charities and nonprofits from residents throughout Summerlin this year."

According to Jennie Lombardo, a Summerlin resident and speech-language pathologist who nominated NBCF for the Summerlin Community Gift, the foundation touched her heart through her work with Connor Spilsbury, the 3-year-old son of Toni and Kevin Spilsbury born in 2004 with vision impairment.

"A child with vision impairment comes with no instruction manual and considerable special needs," Lombardo said. "Unfortunately, Las Vegas has little or no resources for these parents and families. With no place to turn, the Spilsburys made the choice to change their own world and the world of other families of children with vision impairment by establishing the Nevada Blind Children's foundation."

In January 2007, the Spilsbury family opened the doors of NBCF to offer parent education and family support, as well as Braille books and special toys for blind children. The foundation also functions as an advocate for visually impaired children. According to Lombardo, the foundation's future plans include the development of sensory and music play groups for visually impaired children and the establishment of a preschool that provides an appropriate learning and educational environment for these special needs children.

"The Spilsburys did not take the easy way out when Connor was born by moving to another city or state where resources for the blind are more readily available," said Lombardo. "Their proactive efforts have not only improved their own lives and the life of their son, their foundation is helping hundreds of Southern Nevada families. Their energy and commitment are admirable."

According to Cathy Sterbentz, director of programs for the foundation and parent of a child with visual impairment, the Summerlin Community Gift will go a long way in helping the organization better equip parents to cope with the challenges of raising a visually impaired child.

"We're a relatively small organization, so the $5,000 gift from Summerlin makes a big impact," Sterbentz said. "We are grateful for Jennie Lombardo's nomination of the foundation, The Howard Hughes Corp.'s generosity and the support of those who chose Nevada Blind Children's foundation for the Summerlin Community Gift. Our ability to help others has been significantly enhanced with this gift."

The decision to award the 2007 Summerlin Community Gift was made by an advisory group of residents who represent a broad spectrum of the community. This year's group includes Kenneth Shore, president of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas; Randy Boesch, president of Red Rock Community Bank; Lori Harris, marketing director of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center; Bridget Moore, communications director of Bishop Gorman High School; Alex Vaughan, student body president of Palo Verde High School; Gregory Carr, branch manager of Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center; and Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson.

According to Warden, Summerlin schools and all nonprofit organizations within the Summerlin community are intentionally excluded from the program to encourage residents to extend their reach.

"We specifically look for those organizations outside of the Summerlin community with proven track records of making a difference throughout our valley," he said. While the majority of the nominations were for organizations that provide critical services to at-risk segments of the population, nominations were also received for health, arts and animal organizations.

"It's always a tough decision," Warden said of the review process. "The Summerlin Community Gift program is in its eighth year and based on the responses we received from residents, we intend to continue this program in the future.

"The needs of the Las Vegas Valley are great and the hearts of Summerlin residents are big. It was gratifying to see the involvement and care of so many Summerlin residents for charitable organizations throughout the valley."

For more information on Summerlin, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.