It was a Saturday night, and I was strolling to the Belmont Ballroom of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, in a velvet smoking jacket, on my way to the first Today for Tomorrow gala, benefiting Communities In Schools of Nevada.  That night, more than $300,000 had been raised (via ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and in-kind donations) for the local affiliate of our nation’s leading dropout prevention program. 

There, at the speakeasy-styled cocktail hour, 400 or so swells in 1920s-themed attire, twirled pearl sautoirs, and sipped on cocktails, such as “The Gilded Age” and the “Benny Blanco” (conceived by The Cosmopolitan’s Chief Mixologist, Mariena Mercer); while bidding on lots in the silent auction.

Then, after the velvet curtains were drawn, guests flocked to the veritable bazar of food stations, representing The Cosmopolitan’s thirteen restaurants – overseen by the chefs, themselves – including the brothers Bromberg (Blue Ribbon Sushi), Anthony Meidenbauer (Holstein’s), Stephen Hopcraft (STK), Dan Rossi (Rose. Rabbit. Lie.), Chris Santos (Beauty & Essex), Rainer Becker (Zuma), Alvin Cailan (Egg Slut), and the always-charming Scott Conant (Scarpetta, D.O.C.G. Enoteca).

Seen on the scene in their finest Jazz Age finery were Diana Bennett , Marlee Palermo, Sandi Wheeler, David Steen, and Eduardo Garcia; Elaine Wynn, Punam Mather, and Dawn and Christopher Hume; Miles Dickson, Andy Artusa, and Amy Rossetti; Sean McClenahan, Michael McGraw, Phil Reynolds and Brig Lawson; Sean Suggs and Alan Walker; Today for Tomorrow’s fearless (and fedoraed) leader Ed Cecchi and Dr Regan Holdridge; and a group of faces familiar to Dawson drop-off, including Scarlet Abin, Kate and Greg Hemingway, Kelly Maxwell, and Corri and Gustav Backman.

The only program proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates, Communities in Schools provides services in more than 2,200 schools, in 26 states (and the District of Columbia!) nationwide; benefiting 1.3 million students, and their families, each year.  CIS of Nevada serves over 58,000 students, via operations in 59 schools in Southern, Western, and Northeastern Nevada; doing whatever it takes to help kids stay in school, by working with both the schools and the communities that surround them.

On behalf of CIS of Nevada, Dr. Tiffany Tyler (CEO) and Brittany McCoy (Director, Resource Development) spoke from the heart, and after thanking the attendees, reminded us how important it is that students stay in school.  I think the whole evening was, perhaps, best summed-up by CIS of Nevada Chair, Susie Lee, when she said “…leaders, caring people, and relationships can change students’ lives.  That’s what Communities In Schools is about, and that’s why we’re all here.”  Tell it, Susie Lee!

Today for Tomorrow | Communities In Schools of Nevada
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Click HERE for info

Get into it!
#CISofNV