Have A Heart fundraiser for Carson City area FISH a huge success

Thank you to everyone who made the Friends in Service Helping, 8th annual Have A Heart fundraiser a success. Due to the generosity and kind-heartedness of the community, this year was the most successful yet!

For this event, “celebrity waiters” from all over Western Nevada came together at Casino Fandango in Carson City to serve and compete for tips. This year’s winner was the Dynamic Duo of waiter teams: Amy Clemens (Ameriprise Financial) and Barb D’Anneo (FISH Board of Directors)! With their teamwork, they raised over $4,000 in tips.

These two were closely followed behind by John Coupolous (JP Coupolous, Architect), Dana Whaley (Carson City Toyota), and Kris Wells (AT&T).

Many thanks to all the celebrity waiters who made this evening possible: Shelley Aldean (Glenbrook Company), Selina Giesler (City National Bank, FISH Board of Directors), Sister Marie (St. Teresa’s of Avila, FISH Board of Directors), Father Tom (St. Teresa’s of Avila), Marena Works (Nevada Health Centers), Dr. Rex Baggett (F.I.S.H. Ross Clinic), Dr. Gary Ailes (Sierra Animal Hospital), Sheriff Ken Furlong (Police Department), Linda Flaherty (representing Dyer Lawrence Law), Lisa Schuette (Carson Animal Services Initiative), Renee Plain (In Plain Sight), Pastor Roy Conover (LifePoint Church), Bob Crowell (Carson City Mayor), Nancy Paulson (Carson City Manager), Dr. Vince Solis (Western Nevada College), Michelle Joy (Carson Tahoe Health), Doug Carlton (Clickbond, FISH Board of Directors), Dr. David Johnson (F.I.S.H. Ross Clinic), Lori Bagwell (Carson City Supervisor), Zach Conine (Nevada State Treasurer), Mark and Heidi Ghan (Western Nevada College), Chuy Ampudia (United Federal Credit Union), Sean Slamon (Fire Department Chief), Bob Richards and Ryan Nutter (K-Bul 98.1), Monica Jaye (KKFT 99.1), Bill & Terri Dietlein (NAFCO USA), Valerie Melendez (Northern Nevada Development Authority), Delci Jensen (Alpine Insurance), Valerie Cooney (FISH Board of Directors), Bret Hanse (Waste Management), Brook Sweeting (Wells Fargo), Teresa Benitez-Thompson (Majority Floor Leader of the Nevada Assembly), Jeff Thompson (KOLO TV), Bridget Chavez and Kelsey Marier (KOLO TV), and Paul Rodriguez, Ellie Keene, Dan Fuller, Olga Ortiz, and Maria Bravo (Clickbond).

These amazing volunteers and businesses are true celebrities as this event would not have been possible otherwise. Thank you all so much for volunteering your time and effort to make this evening a success!

We’d also like to thank all of our sponsors for this evening! These sponsors generously provided donations to tantalize our guests! Thank you all: Lori Bagwell, Living the Good Life, Casino Fandango, Red’s Old 395 Grill, Dr. Vince Solis, The Martin Hotel, Mangia Tutto, Bruce Titus Photography, Snap-On, Wells Fargo, Freestyle Hair Design, Charlie Booth, Ian Murdock, Carson Nugget, Empty Bowls, Galaxy Fandango, El Charro Avitia, Nevada State Railroad Museum, POKEDOKE, and Silver Oak Golf Course.

Finally, I’d like to thank all the volunteers who made this event possible: Monica Benjamin, Jim Peckham, Alivia Flewellen, Devon Wirtz, Jeff Yezek, Jill Murdock, Scott Davis, Sandy Davis, and the Elders and Sisters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We appreciate all of your hard work to make this event happen!

The Have A Heart with Celebrity Waiters event is Friends In Service Helping’s biggest fundraiser in Carson City. All proceeds from this event stay local and help local families and individuals get a hand up in life. If you’d like to continue to support us throughout the year, please come by to shop at our Thrift Store (open Monday-Saturday, 9:00am – 5:30pm) or volunteer with us!

Your purchases will go towards providing services to our clients, such as: groceries from the food bank, dinner at our dining hall, clothing, assistance with NV Energy bills or SouthWest Gas bills, doctor visits at our on-site clinic, a place to sleep at our shelters, dental assistance with volunteer dentists, showers, laundry, hygiene items, job readiness, water heaters, and more!

Visit us in person at our office and food bank for a tour! You can also follow us online at www.nvfish.com or via Facebook and Instagram @nvfish.

If you know of anyone needing assistance, FISH can help at our office location: 138 E. Long St., open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.. Our phone number is 775-882-3474. We are always willing to give a hand up to someone in need.