GOVERNOR'S BANQUET RAISES $28,000!
Victims of the Carson City IHOP and
Reno Air Races tragedies to split proceeds

The Inaugural "Nevada Day Governor's Banquet", held at The Grand Sierra Resort on Thursday, October 27, 2011, proved to be a fitting celebration of Nevada's birthday and was a healing event to remember the ones who fell victim during the recent tragedies at the Carson City IHOP and the Reno Air Races. Governor Brian Sandoval was in attendance, joined by other special guest speakers and dignitaries in honoring our state's 147th birthday and to raise money for these worthy causes. 545 people were in attendance.

In all, $13,967 was raised from ticket sales, silent auction proceeds, and general donations. The largest single donors included Lance Gilman, owner of the Mustang Ranch, and Alex Meruelo, owner of the Grand Sierra Resort.

Lance Gilman donated $1,000 to the cause on behalf of the Mustang Ranch. He also bid on and won $2,305 worth of silent auction items at the banquet. As the principal developer of the Tahoe Reno Industrial Park, Lance also pledged $2,000 from that company alone, to bring the grand total to $5,305 from one individual!

Also in attendance, Alex Meruelo pledged to match whatever proceeds were raised, and thus kicked in an additional $14,000 on behalf of the Grand Sierra Resort, bringing the total to $27,967. Nevada Day threw in the extra $33 to bring it to an even $28,000 for the night.

$14,000 will be given to the Think Kindness Family Assistance Fund for the Air Races victims, and $14,000 will be given to the IHEAL Community Fund for the Carson City IHOP.

Board members from Nevada Day, Inc. will make a special check presentation to Think Kindness this Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 6:00pm at the Grand Opening of Campo Restaurant at 50 N. Sierra St in Reno, which is the next fundraising event for the Think Kindness Family Assistance Fund for the Reno Air Races. Details are still pending with regards to the official check presentation to the IHEAL Community Fund.

Governor Sandoval himself expressed his personal endorsement to turn this event into an annual tradition, therefore mark your calendar for the:

2nd Annual Nevada Day Governor's Banquet
Thursday, October 25, 2012
at the Grand Sierra Resort, Reno

This celebratory fundraising event will continue to be held on the Thursday day before the official Nevada Day State Holiday, which is always observed on the last Friday of the month of October. A charity recipient for the proceeds of the 2012 Governor's Banquet will be named at a later date.
NV Day Governors Banquet

Donations can still be made to the victims of the Carson City IHOP and Reno Air Races tragedies by using the Donate button below.

Inaugural Governor's Banquet In the News ...



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