Valley Automall treats foster teens to day of fun

The Valley Automall hosted its 12th annual Foster Teens Holiday Celebration on Dec. 20. The event gave 100 disadvantaged youths an opportunity to enjoy the season with free food, gifts and fun. Valley Automall launched its Foster Teens day as a way to bring seasonal cheer to Nevada's foster children, which number more than 3,000.

"It was exciting to see these kids enjoying themselves during the holidays," Valley Automall Manager Valorie Staley said. "They had the opportunity to see that somebody loves and cares about them, which is what the holidays are about."

Chaperoned teens arrived to a colorfully decorated Valley Automall dealership where the festivities began with donated Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate. Next, the youngsters received $100 from the Valley Automall Owners Association to spend on a shopping spree, where they were taken by chartered coach buses. Teens also enjoyed a buffet-style lunch of beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, broccoli and homemade cookies donated by Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse. The meal was followed by a raffle for free prizes, hosted by KVVU Fox 5's chief meteorologist Darren Peck.

Prizes included cash, mountain bikes, CD stereos, DVD players, iPods, UNLV basketball tickets, BMX T-shirts and hats. The teens also received complimentary haircuts from professional stylists Kerri May, Marisa Brager and Courtney White.

Professional BMX rider and host of MTV's "The Duel," T.J. Lavin donated T-shirts, hats and autographed posters. Other celebrity guests included former National Basketball Association player Jerome Williams, who gave away 40 pairs of designer tennis shoes from his "Junk Yard Dogs" clothing collection. Mixed martial artist fighter and commentator Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg was also on hand, answering questions, taking pictures and signing autographs.

The Foster Teens Holiday Celebration aims to develop and improve self-worth in foster children and give them support and love that they might not receive elsewhere.

"This event helps lift the spirits of neglected teens who might otherwise not experience the holidays," said Richard Brown, a representative youth support worker with the Clark County Division of Child and Family Services. "It gives them a special day to be the center of attention, builds their confidence and gives them encouragement, letting them know they are important."

For more information on foster parenting, call 455-0181 or visit www.accessclarkcounty.com.

Sponsors of the Foster Teen Holiday Celebration included the Valley Automall Association, KVVU Fox 5, Jerome Williams, Northwest Landscape Construction, Swan Advertising, Mercedes-Benz of Henderson, T.J. Lavin, Findlay Toyota and Insight Communications.

The Valley Automall is the world's largest automall with more than 185 acres, with thousands of new and used vehicles. The auto mall is located in Henderson off of U.S. Highway 93/95 at Auto Show Drive, or exit the Las Vegas Beltway at Gibson Road.

Valley Automall dealers include Audi Henderson, Chapman Chrysler-Jeep, Courtesy Imports, Courtesy Mazda, Desert BMW, Desert Pontiac-GMC-Buick, Findlay Acura, Findlay Cadillac-Saab, Findlay Honda Henderson, Findlay Toyota, Findlay Volkswagen, Ford Country, Henderson Chevrolet, Henderson Nissan, Mercedes-Benz of Henderson, Saturn of Henderson and Towbin Dodge.