Station Casinos' Smart Start donates to schools

Clark County School District high-need elementary schools are getting help from some friends this year.

In the southeast, 16 schools received support from Station Casinos, with the company's donation totaling $100,000 in the area. The corporation's total donation to the school district was more than $400,000.

Smart Start is a program that was started seven years ago by Station Casinos in an effort to concentrate company philanthropy efforts where they were needed the most -- in local elementary schools. As part of the program, each Station Casinos property is paired up with an elementary school and offers year-round support such as volunteering hours in the classrooms, mentoring students, hosting special events and donating needed resources such as backpacks for the students.

The four Smart Start partner elementary schools in the southeast are Dearing, 3046 Ferndale St.; Sewell, 700 E. Lake Mead Parkway; Taylor, 144 Westminster Way; and Whitney, 5005 Keenan Ave., and all received a $10,000 donation. Aside from the partner schools, 12 high-need elementary schools in the southeast received $5,000 each from Station Casinos.

Before the school year began, the principal at each partner school met with each property's general manager and human resource director to assess the school's critical needs, which may include financial resources, students' needs and curriculum.

Dearing's partner is Boulder Station, Sewell's partner is Fiesta Henderson, Taylor's partner is Green Valley Ranch, and Whitney's partner is Wild,Wild,West, Station Casinos, The Greens and Barley's.

"The cool thing about our partnership is it's not a cookie-cutter program," said Lori Nelson, director of corporate communications for Station Casinos.

Station employees can volunteer their time, donate money or both to help out the program. Examples of ways the company has helped in the past include hosting etiquette luncheons, donating supplies, and helping students with their homework.

"From a company perspective, it's nice to be able to use our power and influence for something so positive in the community," Nelson said.

High-need elementary schools are those that have been identified by the CCSD as schools that do not meet certain established federal criteria, Nelson said.

Smart Start funds are administered through the Clark County Public Education Foundation.