Group donates books on tape

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      For decades the Junior League of Las Vegas has planted charitable seeds throughout the community, changing lives and leaving the people and places they visited a little brighter.
      And now some local elementary school children will have the chance to see some of the nonprofit organization's work.
      The league recently donated 2,000 books on tape to at-risk schools in the Clark County School District for its millennium project.
      In celebration of the new millennium and in an effort to promote volunteerism, Junior Leagues throughout the nation were challenged to create a project involving the number 2,000, whether it was donating 2,000 blankets to the homeless or 2,000 canned goods to women's shelters.
      "While we loved the idea of doing 2,000 of anything, we wanted it to be 2,000 of something that would be lasting, and there is never a better place to invest than in the children," said Louise Helton, who coordinated the project. "We wanted to come up with something that was child-centered."
      The books, aimed at primary readers, were recorded both in English and Spanish by Junior League members and community volunteers from businesses and schools, including Western High School's Latino club, The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, UNLV School of Law, Studio Center and Caesars Palace.
      "The most rewarding thing for me was to hear all of the people who agreed to do the project say it was so much fun that they asked for more books," Helton said. "They were so excited about the project. You can see that it's going to be so good for the children and it was something the volunteers could be creative about in their reading. Some of them went all out and got sound effects. It's just been fabulous hearing what some of the people did."
      KLVX-TV, Channel 10, donated more than 1,000 books, while Borders Books on North Rainbow Boulevard and the Las Vegas Skin and Cancer Clinic donated money to fund a majority of the rest.
      Children will be able to check out the books and tapes at their school libraries and bring them home, and the kids are encouraged to read along with the team.
      The ability to take the books home is a big benefit for many children, said Candy Schnieder, assistant director of the Clark County School-Community Partnership Program.
      Schnieder said many of the children in at-risk schools don't have books of their own at home for a variety of reasons and aren't proficient readers. So this allows them to demonstrate to their parents how well they are reading, as well as share stories with their siblings.
      "It's a very nice gesture on the part of Junior League and very helpful for schools in providing resources for children to share with their families," Schnieder said. "Junior League has made a tremendous commitment to support education in our community. They provide teacher grants for special projects in the classroom, and this is just another way they have demonstrated their commitment to education. They realize reading is fundamental to children learning."
      A special ceremony took place Jan. 22 at Borders Books, where Junior League members presented the donation to a representative from the school district.
      The Junior League of Las Vegas has close to 500 members. It was started in 1946 when seven housewives banned together and formed what was then called the Service League. The small group quickly went to work for the benefit of Las Vegas' residents in need of assistance, providing layettes and medical supplies, transportation for mothers and children to health clinics and Christmas presents to children.
      They also directed their efforts at education, instilling a hot lunch program in schools. One of the Junior League's primary focuses continues to involve education. To date, it has donated more than $110,000 to Clark County and private school teachers who annually submit grant requests for classroom projects.
      "That's been the fun part for me is really turning people on to how fun and rewarding and satisfying community service can be, and that you don't have to do anything major and huge to make a difference," Helton said of the 2000 project. "You can sit and read a book on tape and that will make a difference in the life of a child."
      Those interested in the Junior League can call 822-6536.