GreetingsfromWestCareNevada,
Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had in relation to providing care to individuals and families while working for WestCare Nevada are regarding providing information and knowledge about healthy vs. unhealthy (codependent) relationships. This is especially true in my work with family members who tend to be the “giver” while their loved one, who’s addicted to substances, takes on the role of the “taker.” You see, in a relationship without reciprocity, both the giver and the taker suffer. The givers eventually find themselves feeling angry, victimized, and used since no one does for them what they are willing to do for others. The taker, on the other hand, never experiencesthewonderfulblessingsassociatedwithgiving.
Well, an issue with giving is definitely not the case when it comes to this month’s August issue of the Nevada Loop Newsletter and although we have notnecessarilyenteredintotheseasonofgiving,someofoursupportersinthe community have surely stepped up in relation to making sure that our clients and their children have positive experiences while receiving treatment. Their generosity cannot go unnoticed either. Let’s start with the back-to-school donations we received from the Las Vegas Raider Nation Wrecking Crew and from employees at Caltrol, Inc. Both groups provided backpacks full of schoolsuppliesforourchildrenreturningtotheclassroom.Infact,therewasso much excess that we were able to drop off extra backpacks and supplies to one of the elementary schools in the community. We also had the opportunity to provide a tour to members from American First National Bank and, to our surprise,receivedadonationforourWomenandChildren'sCampus
In addition, this month’s issue of the Loop discusses a new partnership betweenWestCareandCOREAcademy,wheresomeofourchildrenandtheir parentswillbeprovidedwiththeopportunitytoexperienceallthatCOREhasto offerbywayofdevelopmentandempowermentforlocalstudents.Wealsohad a very successful Movie on the Mountain at Harris Springs Ranch and the men loved it. Lastly, WestCare Nevada attended the 2023 Southern Nevada Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Summit and it was so refreshing to be able to see that the focus of the event was geared toward working together as a community and breaking down the silos that have previouslyexisted.
So, as we continue in our summer wind-down, let us also continue to be reminded of the benefits associated with giving and serving, such as lower stress levels and living a longer, more productive life. These are definitely things that those of us who work for WestCare Nevada already understand as wecontinuallyworktowardsUpliftingtheHumanSpirit.
Beginnings of a New Partnership
By Andrew Moran, Development Director, WestCare FoundationAmericanFirstNationalBankmade a generous donation of $5,000 to our Women and Children’s Campus (WCC) The check was presented by American First National Bank’s Vice President and Regional Manager, Lucheng Mailloux, and AVP/Sales & Service Manager,NinaChavez Thetworeceivedatourofourlovelyfacility
As part, we were highlighted by the Las Vegas Chinese News Networkintheirnewsletter
Our Community Action Council (CAC) member and longtime supporter, Eric Endy, helped secure this fantastic opportunity and attended with his wife, Hsiaochin Endy WestCare Nevada’s Vice President, Leo Magridichian, and Director of Residential Services, Irma Magridichian, alongside WestCare’s SVP/Chief Development Officer, Scott Faulkenberry, gave a wonderful tour of the current facilityandthepropertythatwehopetobreakgroundonsoonforThe Village, a planned transitional living community for women and their children who have recently and successfully completed a residential treatmentprogram
We believe this is the start of a long, beautiful relationship and are currently discussing a financial literacy program that will be implemented on campus This program will help our clients navigate the banking system and educate them on how to keep a budget and openabankaccount
Join us in thanking American First National Bank for their kindness and effort in giving back to the community This is what Uplifting the Human Spirit is all about We look forward to strengthening this partnership!
CORE & WestCare: A Collaboration for our Families
By Marilyn Moran, Vice Chair, WestCare Nevada CAC
On July 20, local non-profit, CORE, joined WestCare Nevada for a fantastic tour at our Women and Children’s Campus(WCC)ledbytheViceChairofWestCareNevada’sCommunityActionCouncil(CAC),MarilynMoran
Longtimefriend,Nevadan,andphilanthropist,BarbaraMolasky,isthecurrentOutreachDirectorofCORE Alsoonthe tourwasCORE’sExecutiveDirector,JeffJones,andVolunteerandMentorCoordinator,JenniferJeong
We are excited to collaborate with CORE because many of our values and philosophies align CORE is dedicated to building communities that support scholars and families with equity, accountability, partnership, and kindness They empower,enrich,andeducate
CORE adheres to the pioneering work of the Aspen Institute by recognizing the need to provide services and opportunitiesforchildrenandadultsintheirlivesinthefollowingareas:
1)Postsecondaryeducationandemploymentpathways
2)Earlychildhoodeducationanddevelopment
3)Economicassets
4)Healthandwell-being
5)Socialcapital
CORE is one of only two organizations in Southern Nevada to have formally adoptedthiswholefamilyapproach
Given that our WCC has children up through the fifth grade living with their mothers as they utilize our services, we see the potential of these children transitioningintoCORE’sprogramsandservices
We are very excited about what the future holds for our two organizations and lookforwardtocontinuingthegoodworkthatwedointhecommunity
OnJuly28,HarrisSpringsRanch(HSR)hostedamovienightunderthestars for the men in our residential program Throughout the week leading up to the event, the men could complete extra chores to obtain “WestCare bucks” to exchange for various snacks during the movie night HSR staff had freshly popped popcorn, candy, soda, and ice cream available for our clients to exchangewiththeirWestCarebucks!Thenightwasfilledwithjoyandlaughter asthemencametogethertoenjoysomeofthesimplepleasuresofsobriety AveryspecialthankstoourDirectorofResidentialServices,IrmaMagrdichian; our Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator, Rhonda Davisson-Rhames; andourVicePresident,LeoMagrdichian,forhelpingsetuptheevent,running the concession stand, and setting up the projector and screen This event couldn’thavebeenpossiblewithoutthemandalltheirhardwork!
Hereiswhatsomeoftheclientshadtosayaboutthisevent:
“I loved it It was a great movie and everyone got along It couldn’t have been anybetter”-StevenD
“I enjoyed the experience It was fun to get the WestCare bucks and it was greatformorale”-CoreyD
“I really enjoyed it because it was a change from the norm There was great comraderyatthecamp-bothleadinguptotheeventandafter Thecandywas greataswell”-IsaacS.
“Itwasaveryenjoyabletime Itwasgreattoseeeveryonecometogether” -VincentM.
By Rhonda Davisson, Transitional and VA Programs Coordinator
