The Loop - Nevada (Quarter 1 2025)

THE LOOP A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND NEVADA

JANUARY - MARCH 2025

ISSUE 44

VOLUME 4

The “Road to Recovery” on the way to Harris Springs Ranch

Hello from WestCare Nevada!

We have a little catching up to do. As 2024 came to a close, we can now reflect on all we’ve accomplished together, and we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for what has begun in 2025. The past holiday season has been nothing short of inspiring as our WestCare Nevada family came together to bring joy, hope, and connection to those we serve.

We kicked things off with being a part of the Giving Back to Box Town event, a heartwarming community event that featured an incredible car show and gift giveaway – bringing smiles and holiday cheer to families in need. Our holiday spirit continued with a special shopping event for individuals in treatment, allowing them to select gifts for their loved ones, fostering both empowerment and joy.

Adding a little friendly competition to the mix, our Pahrump team hit the field for a softball game against another treatment program, where camaraderie and teamwork took center stage.

As we welcomed the New Year, we celebrated with our Fifth Annual Tamale Fest shared by all program participants, embracing the warmth of community and tradition.

In February, our advocacy efforts took us to Carson City for Behavioral Health Day, where we had the opportunity to raise awareness and champion support for vital services in our state, while supporting the new Behavioral Health Association of Nevada.

Finally, we’re thrilled to share exciting progress on The Village at the Women and Children’s Campus! Construction is moving along, and this transformative project promises to provide a safe, nurturing space where women and children can heal and thrive. We expect Phase I to be completed in the fall.

Each of these moments reflects the heart of our mission – Uplifting the Human Spirit – where we strive to uplift, empower, and care for those who need it most. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Together, we’re making a lasting impact, one step at a time.

With gratitude and hope,

Leo Magrdichian, LCSW, LCADC, Vice President

w e s tcarenevada . c o m

WestCare and Community Partners Unite for Fifth Annual Giving Back to Box Town Holiday Block Party

By Jennifer Hilton, Director of Training and Technology for WestCare Foundation For the last five years, since the week before Thanksgiving of 2021, a group of my high school friends and I have been getting together to organize and host the nowannual Giving Back to Box Town Holiday Block Party & Car Show. We all went to Western High School, known for being a rough school, and most of them grew up in this neighborhood in Las Vegas: Box Town. However, we all eventually moved out and do well for ourselves. One night five years ago, five of the guys got to reminiscing about how we wouldn’t be who or where we are without the neighborhood we grew up in and how they wanted to give back. So, an idea was born: the Giving Back to Box Town Block Party.

The first year’s event should have taken months to organize between permits, insurance, procurement, and sponsorships, but instead came together in just three weeks with the help of our community. In the last five years, it has only grown from originally being able to help a couple hundred to now serving meals for over 950, distributing $15,000 in UFC clothing, and providing a fun time that includes bouncy houses, Santa, a live DJ, and 36 specialty cars. We also had special appearances by the Grinch, the Las Vegas Golden Knights cheer team, The Vivas, and Robo Dog. Not to mention the TOYS! In the first year, we assisted 50 families with toys. In this fifth year, through growth and commitment, we helped provide multiple toys and gifts to over 600 youth ages 0 to 18. Four families were provided sponsored holiday meals, five families received new reusable holiday trees, and due to one anonymous donor, one household was fully refurnished.

As WestCare Foundation’s Director of Training, I am proud to work with WestCare Nevada as their representative for this event every year. It truly shows us what Uplifting the Human Spirit can look like. I want to be sure to give a special thanks to our community partners who continually helped to provide support, toys, and cheer: the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the City of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVPMD), LVMPD SWAT, LVMPD AllHazard Regional Multi-agency Operations and Response (ARMOR), and City Councilman Brian Knudsen. A very special thank you to LVMPD Bolden Area Command, which provided over 500 of the toys given out! Additionally, we want to highlight our amazing volunteers from various clubs and nonprofits to help make this run smoothly. With over 40 folks who took time out of their day to show up and help, it truly shows that Giving Back is what it is all about!

westcarenevada.com

Uplifting the Human Spirit

WestCare Nevada Celebrates Unity and Tradition with the Fifth Annual New Year's Tamale Fest

Wells Fargo Volunteers Brighten WestCare Nevada’s Women and Children’s Campus

By Irma Magrdichian, Director of Residential Services

By Elias Hardt, Marketing Specialist

WestCare Nevada celebrated the new year with its Fifth Annual Tamale Fest.

Staff and clients from the Women and Childrens Campus’ Transitional Living program spent an entire evening preparing tamales for all the Las Vegas locations to enjoy a heartfelt meal as we welcomed the new year full of warmth, hope, and unity.

In February, Wells Fargo staff volunteered their time to help paint interior walls at WestCare Nevada's Women and Children's Campus. This important project allowed us to brighten and liven the space, creating a better environment for recovery for those who need it. WestCare then added renovated flooring and an overall refresh to the area, completing a much-needed and much-appreciated touch up. We sincerely thank Wells Fargo for their generous community support!

I am honored to have spent time in the kitchen with the women as we discussed traditions, future plans, the true meaning of giving back and embracing change. It filled my heart to receive feedback from WestCare participants. Many said these were the best tamales they’ve ever had, others expressed gratitude for the special attention, time, and efforts put in specifically for them to enjoy, while the vast majority thanked WestCare for their first memory of the year.

WestCare Advocates for Behavioral Health at Impactful Nevada Legislature Event

By Andrew Moran, Development Director In February, WestCare’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Jason Engle; WestCare Nevada’s Vice President, Leo Magrdichian; and I traveled to Carson City to participate in Behavioral Health Day at the Nevada Legislature. This event, hosted by Behavioral Health Advocacy Network (BHAN), provided opportunities for networking and advocacy, including direct discussions with legislators on critical behavioral health issues and BHAN’s mission of fostering collaboration, prevention, accessibility, and sustainable behavioral health care throughout Nevada.

The team notably met with Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop and Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony to highlight their priorities and initiatives. The day concluded with an engaging evening reception organized by BHAN CEO, Steve Shell, bringing together community leaders, advocates, and lawmakers to further dialogue on advancing behavioral health in the state.

@westcarenevada

Uplifting the Human Spirit

WestCare and Living Free Health Host Inspiring Softball Event in Pahrump

Construction Picks Up on The Village at the Women and Children’s Campus

By Jennifer B. Nguyen, Research Assistant

By Elias Hardt, Marketing Specialist

At the WestCare Community Involvement Center in Pahrump, clients and staff came together for a memorable softball game with our community partner, Living Free Health and Fitness. This event provided more than just an opportunity to play —it created a space for growth where individuals not only honed their skills on the field, but also embraced important life lessons in teamwork, communication, commitment, and personal development. Our clients dedicated countless hours to practice each week, showing unwavering commitment and drive in their pursuit of excellence.

Carving a throughline across an Uplifting first quarter is the ongoing progress on construction for The Village at the Women and Children’s Campus. Week by week, after officially breaking ground in late December, the site has gone from barren soil to the framed and plumbed structures of the Village’s first phase: 22 apartments, plus community spaces.

As everyone came together to share the joy of the game, stronger bonds were formed within our community, deepening the sense of unity and support. This spirit of collaboration and guidance, led by Deborah, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Starr, Peer Support Specialist, played a crucial role in coaching and mentoring our clients, empowering each individual to thrive both on and off the field.

As we reflect on our first few months of 2025, we also look forward to the next nine and beyond. Once complete, this 63,623 sq. ft. expansion will offer 84 new units, along with community gardens, play areas, and more, creating a supportive space for women and their children to thrive. As the largest transitional housing project in Nevada for women and children, the Village will serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity, as well as a model for those who will join us on our mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit.

None of this would be possible without the support of our donors, partners, and community, whom we thank every day for enabling us to pursue this ambitious goal.

Continue the journey online!

westcarenevada.com

Follow WestCare Nevada on social media to learn more about our team and the work we're doing in our local community! #WestCareNevada

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@westcarenevada