MARLENE KARAS/VIEWDiane Ray, co-chairman of The Sunshine Kids Committee, looks through some of the office furniture that will be for sale at the Prudential Americana Group?s community garage sale on Saturday.
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More than 1,500 real estate agents and employees of Prudential Americana Group are coming together to raise money for The Sunshine Kids.
The local Prudential Americana Group will hold its second annual Sunshine Kids Garage Sale at 7 a.m. Saturday, at its corporate offices, 2140 S. Pebble Ave., just west of Eastern Avenue. The sale will close when all items have been sold.
The Sunshine Kids is an organization that provides activities, trips and events to children with cancer.
In 1991, the national Prudential Americana Group adopted The Sunshine Kids and began helping the group. Agents from Las Vegas became interested in the charity when they met the children at an event in 2005, said Diane Ray, co-chairman of The Sunshine Kids Committee.
"Sales executives give through their commission," Ray said. "They donate as much as they want on every closing packet they do, and Prudential matches up to $10,000."
In 2006, the six Southern Nevada offices raised $177,000.
"The Sunshine Kids is an organization that we support wholeheartedly," said Mark Stark, chief executive officer of Prudential Americana Group. "Last year, we raised $10,000 through the garage sale, and we're looking forward to an even bigger turnout this year."
Prudential employees are donating clothes, toys, furniture, books and office equipment for the sale. The public is welcome to come shop or donate items to the sale.
Ray said that at last year's garage sale, some people came in and dressed their whole family for the school year. Another family bought their first washer and dryer at the sale.
"Our team is always very generous in donating items that they know will be popular sellers," Stark said.
Anything that doesn't get sold will be donated to Opportunity Village.
"This brings our company a lot closer together," Ray said. "We're all working for the same cause."
The garage sale will have a disc jockey and a bounce house. Hot dogs, hamburgers and soda will be for sale.
The Sunshine Kids is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1982. All the money raised at the garage sale will go to group, which provides a variety of programs and events, free of charge, for kids who are receiving cancer treatments in hospitals across North America.
"The kids get to meet other kids who are going through the same things that they are," said Shannon Malone, director of operations with The Sunshine Kids. "Kids in school don't know what they are going through."
Locally, the organization is affiliated with Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Last year, Prudential Americana Group's donations helped send children from Las Vegas to Disneyland, Universal Studios and other entertainment destinations.
Donations are tax deductible and are welcome at Prudential Americana's office at 2140 S. Pebble Ave. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations also will be accepted at the sale on the day of the event.
For information, call Ray at 796-7777 or e-mail her at DianeR2@americanagrp.com.
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