A $350,000 grant by the 2007 Nevada Women’s Philanthropy (NWP) will help Boys Town Nevada care for more of Nevada’s abused, abandoned and neglected children, and grow its continuum of care by building two new homes for at-risk youth.

NWP, comprised of 75 of the most influential women in Nevada, selected Boys Town Nevada for the grant because they recognize the work done by the organization as exceptional, and their work to help Nevada’s children as critical.  Boys Town Nevada offers a continuum of care with researched and proven programs that are specifically designed to provide care and treatment to children and families.

“Our membership recognized the timeliness of this critical project and the immeasurable difference it can make,” said Heather duBoef, NWP President.

Boys Town Nevada will use the funds to care for more of the state’s most vulnerable children, constructing two new sibling group homes.  The homes will serve as a licensed family-style residence for sibling groups requiring out-of-home placement to protect them from abuse or neglect until an appropriate permanent situation can be found. When completed, the Boys Town Nevada sibling homes will serve nine children at a time in a safe family-oriented environment.

“It is especially important that siblings who are victims of abuse and neglect remain together with the only loved ones they have at a time of tremendous emotional upheaval,” said Tom Waite, Boys Town Nevada Executive Director.  “We are proud honored and privileged to be selected by the generous members of the NWP and joined in our efforts to save the lives of hurting children.”

Boys Town Nevada’s continuum of programs, including Residential, Assessment and Short-Term Residential, Family-Based Services and Common Sense Parenting®, are designed to help children and families before they enter the foster care system, while in the system, and after they exit.  Children and families are placed in a level of care that fits their need.  This growing continuum of care makes Boys Town Nevada unique, and essential to southern Nevada’s hurting families.  In 2006, 754 children and 152 families found help, healing and hope through Boys Town Nevada programs.

NWP was founded in the fall of 2005 by Dena duBoef, Heather duBoef, Marcelle Frey, Dana Lee, Trina Pascal, and Tawny Sanders.  It is a member driven, pooled-fund philanthropy dedicated to providing large impact grants to serve critical unmet needs in our community.  Members donate the same amount annually and receive one vote.  Participation in the grant process is by invitation only.  The NWP starts its thorough screening process in January of each year and by May narrows the field to two finalists.  Every October the two finalists give presentations to the entire membership; by early November member ballots are tallied and the grant winner is announced.  Proposals are reviewed for sustainability, and organizations are measured for operational efficiencies and effectiveness.  The 2007 runner-up was Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars.

Currently NWP has 75 members with a goal to cap membership at 225 members.  Grant funds are based on the number of members.  The inaugural grant of $180,000 was awarded in 2006 to Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (FIT) to fund the Nevada Women’s Philanthropy Employment Program.