Emergency medical training. Ongoing counseling. Scholarships for hospitality students whose careers will include emergency response planning.
These are just a few of the programs that UNLV donors increased their support for after the mass shooting on the Strip in October 2017.
“UNLV is uniquely situated to help Las Vegas heal in a variety of areas, and donors saw that immediately,” said Scott M. Roberts, president of the UNLV Foundation and vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement.
MGM Resorts Foundation donated more than $100,000 to the UNLV School of Medicine’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Also supporting the program is NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton, who donated a limited edition 2016 Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Edition, which raised $100,000 at the 10th Annual Las Vegas Barrett-Jackson Auction.
The gifts will make a significant difference for medical students, said Dr. Dale Carrison, chair of emergency medicine. “These gifts will help us offer outstanding training to physicians who are specializing in emergency medicine, many of whom were involved in caring for patients during the recent tragedy in Las Vegas.”
Expedia, Inc. put $100,000 into student scholarships for those who were affected as well as those whose careers in hospitality event planning includes safety for mass emergency scenarios.
“It was important for Expedia, as a member of the travel community, to honor the victims of October 1, and also to show our support of Las Vegas and our longstanding partners here,” said Daniel Wathen, director of market management for the gaming region. “We wanted to create a meaningful gift that will positively impact the Las Vegas hospitality community, and our intent is that this scholarship and endowment fund for UNLV, in honor of the fallen victims, will serve as a legacy tribute.”
Another key donor, Charles Schwab Bank, focused on the ongoing mental health challenges that such a tragedy creates. The bank donated $20,000 to the College of Liberal Arts’ community mental health training clinic. The PRACTICE – the partnership for research, assessment, counseling, therapy and innovative clinical education -- will apply the funds to providing services to victims and to support graduate student clinicians so they may continue working through the summer months with ongoing case work.
“We admire and support the important work of the UNLV PRACTICE team as they serve our friends and neighbors, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help as the community continues to recover from this tragedy,” said Brian Cook, president of the Charles Schwab Trust Co. in Henderson.
The gift will make a lasting impact in serving the needs of our community, said Michelle Paul, director of The PRACTICE. “Not only will it help to ensure that people who were impacted by the October 1 tragedy receive the mental and emotional support they need now, it will allow us to train a future generation of mental health providers.”
Other donors continue to give in an effort to help the victims, their families, and the community heal.
