Sands Cares Adopts Local Las Vegas Elementary School
On January 23, 2018, Sands Cares, the company’s corporate giving program, adopted its first school, Helen Herr Elementary School, in partnership with non-profits Spread The Word Nevada (STWN) and Green Our Planet in Las Vegas. The $50,000 donation will fund free books and literacy programs for more than 800 students through 2020.
“This partnership supports our commitment to making Las Vegas the best place to live and work by ensuring we educate the next generation,” Stephanie Stanton, director of Sands Cares at The Venetian and The Palazzo, said. “Literacy is the pathway to self-sufficiency in life and business. We are targeting a school where English is typically not the first language in the home and through Spread the Word Nevada, are inviting families to read together to increase comprehension and also the love of reading.”
STWN’s literary services include “Kids to Kids” and “Snack Time with Books” at the elementary school. “Kids to Kids” recognizes the importance of book ownership as a critical factor in a child’s intellectual development and provides at-risk children the opportunity to bring home a book each month and build their own home libraries.
Through “Snack Time with Books,” a family literacy program that encourages reading with children at home, parents are invited to class to share snacks with their children while a book is shared. Team Members will have the opportunity each month to assist in this after-school event and distribute books for the students to take home.
“We strive to create a print-rich environment and stay focused on the importance of reading by being proactive rather than reactive in terms of literacy,” Vicki Soares, director of marketing at STWN, said. “We believe future generations should be equipped with the right tools that empower and champion literacy needs for young learners.”