SunBuggy Gives Back

It All Began In 1989.

For 25 years, The Shade Tree has been dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and their pets affected by domestic violence and crisis in the Las Vegas valley. As the largest and only 24-hour accessible shelter of its kind in Nevada, The Shade Tree provides help, healing, and hope to more than 6,000 women, children and their pets each year. We offer assistance to victims by providing safe shelter, meals, life skills and educational opportunities, access to healthcare and more.

Since 1989, The Shade Tree has provided victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking, as well as homeless youth and families, with a wide range of comprehensive support. Our programs also collaborate with other community agencies to offer additional assistance.

Mission: To provide safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis and to offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance.

Vision: Self-reliance for every woman and child!

Here at SunBuggy, we believe that no one should ever have to endure a state of homelessness, existing in fear for personal safety and without the means to meet even the most basic of human needs – food and shelter. Every human being, regardless of social status, has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. All homeless children are victims because they lack choice and mobility. Homelessness is a community problem that impacts everyone and everyone can be a part of the solution.

Here at SunBuggy, we helped this cause by donating our one of a kind Buggy Adventures to their Silent Auction. Money made from the auction goes directly to this Charity.

In 1983, the Epilepsy Foundation Texas was founded by current Chief Executive Officer, Donna Stahlhut with a phone in her kitchen.  Taking a proactive stand, Ms. Stahlhut established a widespread network of information, resources, and support for others dealing with the multidimensional difficulties associated with epilepsy.

The lives of thousands of adults and children living with epilepsy, in the northeast, southeast, and western region of Texas have been profoundly touched by the programs and services that have grown out of this humble beginning. The Epilepsy Foundation of Texas has a rich history of providing a wide array of programs and services to benefit people with epilepsy and their families.

 

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a generic term for a variety of seizure disorders. A person with recurring seizures is said to have epilepsy. A seizure is a brief disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain.

What is the difference between seizures and epilepsy?

Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. They occur when a group of brain cells- which normally discharge in a choice or random manner – suddenly discharge together in rhythmic bursts. Epilepsy describes a state in which a group of abnormal brain cells, scar tissue, malformation or other underlying condition makes the brain susceptible to periodic or recurring rhythmic bursts of electrical energy.

How many people does epilepsy affect?

Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder after stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. It affects three million Americans of all ages. Approximately 200,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy occur each year. One in every 10 Americans will experience a seizure at some point in their lives. Three percent will eventually develop epilepsy.

What causes epilepsy?

In nearly 70% of cases, the cause is unknown. The most common causes for the remaining 30% include: head trauma resulting from automobile accidents, gunshot wounds and sports accidents; brain tumor and stroke; poisoning, such as lead or alcohol; infection and maternal injury. Some rare forms are genetic. Epilepsy is never contagious – it is impossible to get it from or give it to another person.

How is epilepsy treated?

Epilepsy may be treated with medications, surgery, electrical stimulation therapy or a special diet. Medication therapy is by far the most common and is usually the first to be tried. A number of epilepsy medications are currently available. These medications control different types of seizures. A seizure-preventing medication (also known as antiepileptic or anticonvulsant drug) won’t work properly until it reaches a certain level in the blood stream and that blood level must be maintained. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions very carefully as to when and how much medication should be taken. The goal is to keep the blood level high enough to prevent the seizures, but not so high that it causes unwelcome side effects.

Approximately 500,000 Americans receive medical care which successfully controls their seizures without further complication. Approximately one million people experience inadequate relief from their seizures and/or treatment side effects. New medications with fewer side effects are desperately needed.

Where can I get additional information about epilepsy?

Contact the Epilepsy Foundation Texas for more information at 888-548-9716 or 713-789-6295 or info@eftx.org.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, and stroke is No. 4. Consider these facts:  A heart attack or another type of coronary emergency strikes an American every 25 seconds. And someone suffers a stroke about every 40 seconds. Yet many Americans are unaware of these deadly threats. A recent American Heart Association survey found 39 percent of Americans think they are in ideal heart health, but only 1 percent of them actually are. It is the American Heart Association’s mission to help close this gap and help Americans live longer and healthier lives.

Given the increasing obesity epidemic, especially among our youth, events such as Flavors of the Heart are needed now more than ever. The American Heart Association’s 2020 goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. Flavors of the Heart will contribute to this goal by educating the community about delicious heart- healthy foods. New this year, Flavors of the Heart is supporting the American Heart Association’s health equity programs – Teens Cook with Heart, Go Red Por Tu Corazon, Together to End Stroke and the Check Change Control blood pressure program.

Flavors of the Heart is sponsored by Chef Works, Nevada State Bank, Campione D’Italia, Tivoli Village and Rescuescg. For more information on how to participate or become a sponsor, visit www.flavorsoftheheart.com or call (702) 789-4383.

Mission
The primary mission of the 99th Ground Combat Training Squadron (GCTS) is to prepare Security Forces Airmen for combat. 99 GCTS accomplishes its mission by instructing tactical courses aimed at providing Airmen with mission specific skills to defend airbases around the globe.

This mission is accomplished by placing a strong focus on improving the skills of individual instructors and continually updating and improving the training curriculum to meet changing friendly and enemy tactics, techniques and procedures. 99 GCTS also conducts training with Joint and Combined Forces as well as other Air Force specialties in order to sharpen its combat skills.

History
In April, 1981, Headquarters Tactical Air Command established Silver Flag Alpha to teach and evaluate Security Police in Air Base Defense skills. This new training was in response to the lack of adequate weapons and ground combat training during the Vietnam War. The unit took two years to establish the school and the curriculum.

The first Silver Flag Alpha class took place in 1983. Near the end of the 1980s, Silver Flag Alpha moved the bulk of Silver Flag Alpha operations to the Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, which later became Creech Air Force Base, in order to accommodate the growing number of students and the increased scope of the course.

In 2001, the course was refocused to meet the Integrated Base Defense needs supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and later Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Location
The 99 GCTS is located at Creech AFB, adjacent to the town of Indian Springs, Nevada. The student dormitories as well as the classrooms are located on the base. GCTS also has a range complex, which is located approximately 15 miles south of Indian Springs on Highway 95. The range complex consists of 12 ranges capable of supporting all small arms fire in the Air Force inventory, a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) village, a bare base tent city and a maneuver area.

Capabilities
Currently, 99 GCTS is one of eight Security Forces Regional Training Centers that conduct a wide variety of courses designed to ensure SF Airmen accomplish their mission both at home station and while deployed. The primary course taught is the Base Security Operations Course. It is a 17-day course and qualifies Airmen to conduct Integrated Defense Operations within the base boundary. Each year, 99 GCTS conducts 10 to 12 courses and trains approximately 3,000 students. Silver Flag Alpha also conducts an Area Security Operations course to qualify Airmen to operate “outside the wire” (on missions and patrols beyond the base perimeter).

Airmen also receive specialized vehicle, technology, Military Working Dog and weapons training at Silver Flag Alpha specifically tailored to their individual missions. Tactical Vehicle Training trains Airmen to operate and fight vehicles as a weapon system. These vehicles include: Up-Armored High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (UAHMMWV), Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles (MATV).

Many of the GCTS’ vehicles are equipped with Common Remotely Operated Weapons Stations (CROWS). CROWS significantly increases the combat effectiveness of Security Forces vehicles while simultaneously increasing the safety of Security Forces Airmen.

The Airmen are also trained to operate Tactical Automated Sensor Systems. The course teaches them to deploy, operate and repair the sensor systems utilized to secure fixed sites by the Air Force.

Military Working Dogs (MWD) and their handlers attend specific training at Silver Flag Alpha prior to attending the BSO Course. These courses ensure MWD teams are exposed to current enemy tactics, techniques and procedures and that they are certified on all aspects of their specialized role within the Integrated Defense Operations.

The 99 GCTS is home to the largest ground firing range complex and the second largest Combat Arms section in the Air Force. The large range complex provides the opportunity for Airmen to live fire all weapons in the Air Force inventory.

Small Arms live fire familiarization is incorporated into pre-deployment training courses. Airmen also fire blank and simulated munitions (paint rounds) during their training at Silver Flag Alpha. These capabilities provide realistic training and application of tactics.

Qualification courses are taught for heavy weapons (M2, MK19, and M107) in order to provide force multipliers to deployed Defense Force Commanders. Silver Flag Alpha pioneered the first live hand grenade qualification course for RTC use in 2011. The course has now been adopted Air Force-wide.

The 99 GCTS Combat Arms section also trains Airmen to utilize non-lethal weapons including: shotgun/grenade launcher/hand grenade rounds; expandable baton; taser; and glare mout lasers. The combined weapons skill taught by 99 GCTS combat arms personnel ensure Airmen are prepared to counter a wide variety of threats in theater.

Additionally, 99 GCTS provides ranges and training for an estimated 1,500 non-Security Forces personnel annually. This includes other USAF units such as the Office of Special Investigation, Pararescue, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, RED HORSE, sister services, to included Army Special Forces, Army Reserves, Navy Special Operations, Nevada Army National Guard, Marine Reserve Forces, other governmental agencies, to include US Treasury Agents, Las Vegas Metro Police, US Customs Agents, federal and local SWAT, DEA, Nevada State Attorney General’s Office and the FBI. 99 GCTS also hosts foreign national combined training exercises.

USAF Fact Sheet
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada 89191-7078
Phone (702) 652-2750
DSN 682-2750
FAX (702) 652-9838

Mission – Believing that every child deserves a comfortable and supportive place to grow, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Greater Las Vegas creates and supports programs that directly improve the health, education and well-being of children in our community. The Ronald McDonald House is the cornerstone program of RMHC, and provides temporary housing for families who travel to Las Vegas to receive critical medical treatment for their children.

Today, they are stronger than ever due in large part to the continued outpouring of resources from their Mission Partner, McDonald’s. Their unwavering support, extending from monetary contributions to volunteerism; from board participation to media donations, has helped impact countless lives by giving children support, stability and the best medicine of all – their families.

Thank you, McDonald’s, for 40 years of helping children heal with their families by their side.

Your support helped families like Crystal Bell and her daughters Ky’Briegh and Kai’Liegh. “The House helped my twins’ recover because I was able to be there with them to give them strength when they were fighting for their lives.”

RMHC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and no one company can solely fund the growth of RMHC programs and services necessary to serve more families. They also rely on the support of the entire community and greatly value any donations you can afford to RMHC, whether it’s through cash and/or in-kind contributions, your time or fundraising efforts.

In 1998, two HH-60G Rescue helicopters experienced a tragic mid-air collision during a night training mission on the Nellis AFB in the state of Nevada. This catastrophic accident caused the deaths of 12 Airmen leaving a total of 8 children behind. In the aftermath of this tragedy, a fund was started at a local Las Vegas bank to accept donations for the children of the brave Airmen. Not long afterwards, in 1999 another Nellis AFB Rescue Airmen was killed in the line of duty while on deployment to Operation Southern Watch and another fund was started to assist his two young sons.

 

The founders of these two independent assistance funds soon realized that they could be more effective if they combined their efforts. In that process they also realized that there is a much greater need than those few children and decided to pool their resources and expand their efforts to provide for the children of any Air Force Rescue Airman who was killed executing the Air Force Rescue mission from the Kobar Towers terrorist attack in 1996 and forward. In May 2002 That Others May Live Foundation was officially founded  and has CONTINUED to support families of USAF Rescue Heroes since.

 Our Mission: “New Vista is committed to providing the intellectually challenged of all ages with equal opportunities and support so they may experience life to the fullest.” The overall goal of New Vista is to empower people through a better quality of life. Our skilled staff works to improve each individual’s ability to be independent and to build self-esteem through obtaining their goals. 

  New Vista was founded in 1986 by parents of intellectually disabled individuals who were concerned what would happen to their loved ones when they were gone or could not care for them. Out of this need the first program “New Vista Ranch” was created. In 1987 the Gilcrease Brothers donated 15 acres of land to the charity which gave New Vista the platform to build the first 4 homes.  Today,New Vista has over 21 homes and growing in the Las Vegas area.  Additionally, New Vista supports individuals with intellectual challenges still living at home with their families by providing in-home skilled staff that assist with their loved ones needs.

New Vista has a strong core leadership team that is composed of professionals that have a combined experience of over 40 years.

 

Charity Love Fling – Enjoy a night filled with beautiful people as we auction off Las Vegas’ most gorgeous local singles to benefit New Vista. Come bid on all the amazing bachelor and bachelorettes to benefit New Vista and the continuous development of the organization!

Goodwill is an innovative and sustainable social enterprise that turns donations of gently used goods into new jobs and new careers for the members of our local community. We provide employment, job training and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and clients facing other challenges to finding employment.

At Goodwill, they believe that work creates the economic energy that builds strong families and strong communities. Work helps build self-confidence, friendships and independence. Everyone deserves a chance to have those things in life. Goodwill provides that chance and here at SunBuggy, we are ALWAYS more than willing to help!

SunBuggy has been providing a free beach tram service at the Oceano Dunes SVRA and we have been requesting a minimum donation of $5 to ride the beach tram, 100% of which goes directly to the Christopher Meadows Memorial Education Fund.  We are proud to announce that we have recently exceeded $5,000 in monies raised for this very worthwhile charity to remember this fallen hero, and let other continue on the path to help others where his life was cut short.

More information about Christopher’s story is below. The charity is hosted at Charity Smith:

http://www.charitysmith.org/christopher-meadows-paramedic-scholarship/

To take a Tram ride at the Oceano Dunes Go to: http://www.sunbuggy.com/pismo

 

While he had shown interest in riding along with the fire department and listening to a scanner in high school, Christopher Meadows began his pursuit of an emergency medical career in earnest while he was studying in the business school at Cal Poly. During his senior year, in parallel with his Cal Poly studies, he enrolled in the EMT program at Cuesta College. After successfully completing the EMT 1 certification, he hired on with San Luis Ambulance as a reserve EMT in December 2006. From then until graduation from Cal Poly in June 2007, Chris worked as many shifts as possible, immersing himself in the job with the desire to learn as fast as possible and absorb as much as possible. He loved being an EMT so much that he put his potential business career on hold so he could work full-time in emergency service for a year.

Well, the more he worked as an EMT, the more he realized that emergency care was right for him, and he was good at it. One year turned into two, and Chris agonized over which path to pursue – a business career that would be financially rewarding and leverage his college training, or one in emergency services, which he did well and loved, but would never make him rich. Chris also joined the Search and Rescue team and learned all he could about that effort. He was in the process of being appointed the medical lead when, as a search and rescue volunteer, he was tragically killed May 24, 2009 while responding to a medical call at Oceano Dunes SVRA. He was the first member in the history of the SLO Search and Rescue team to be killed in the line of duty. Found in his car after his death were two applications to paramedic schools ready to be mailed. He had chosen to go with what he loved.

Chris never got to continue his career in emergency care. He loved helping people, but only got to do it for a little over two years. Chris was incredibly bright and only did things one way – the right way. The successful recipient of this scholarship must be prepared to pick up where Chris left off, and not only pursue his dream, but deliver on the promise of making the world a better place through dispensing excellent emergency care.

 

On Saturday, February 7th, 2015, the LHS PAPA will host the 25th annual Crab Feed at Leigh High School. This community event draws over 300+ guests. The Crab Feed includes a delicious all-you-can-eat dungeness crab (or chicken) meal, wonderful entertainment by LHS performing art students, a silent auction, and a number of valuable drawings.

 

As a Crab Feed sponsor, SunBuggy was mentioned in event materials. It is rewarding for the SunBuggy family to know that we have helped enrich the education of many of today’s teenagers, who are also tomorrow’s leaders.

 

Money raised at this event makes it possible for over 500 Leigh High School students, regardless of background, to participate in the school’s many music, guard, and drama programs.

These include: The award-winning LHS Longhorn Marching Band

The collegiate-level LHS Wind Ensemble

The LHS Drama Touring Ensemble

The LHS Thespian Society

The CCGC 2013 Finals winner (The LHS Winter Percussion)

 

Operational costs for instructors, uniforms, instruments, music, theater productions, and even necessities as mundane as water at practices are supported by the funds raised at this event.