SOK Board Of Directors Update

SOK Board Of Directors Update

The SOK Board of Directors helps govern our organization. It sets our high-level direction, develops strategic relationships, approves major expenditures, ensures legal compliance, manages risks… You know, the big stuff.

For example, during our annual Board of Directors meeting, they approved our updated three-year strategic plan that supports the growth of our weekend meal bag program, and increases the number children we serve each school year. Pretty big.

All Board Members have “term limits.” So, each year the board elects several new officers and members with different skills and strengths. And sometimes members move on to pursue new opportunities and interests. But it’s always a moment of positive change for everyone as we embrace what’s next and celebrate what was.

We Are Delighted to Welcome…

Greg Hogan

Greg

Chairman Greg Hogan

Connie Anderson

Connie

Vice Chairwoman Connie Anderson

Bruce Adler

Bruce

Treasurer Bruce Adler

Jane Rosenblum

Jane

Secretary Jane Rosenblum

And Express Our Deep Gratitude…

To our former Chairwoman and two outgoing board members who have served with diligence and distinction.

Bruce Adler

A special thank-you to Lauri Perdue, who has worked tirelessly as the Serving Our Kids Board of Directors Chairwoman for the past three years. She was elected to lead the board through a new and exciting phase in SOK’s development.

With the organization growing and helping more and more children across the community, Lauri shaped the board’s purpose and impact, kindled valuable community relationships, played a key role in developing our annual events, and became an important partner to CEO Laurie Tanakaya. We are grateful for her passionate leadership and thrilled that she will continue to serve on SOK’s Board of Directors.

Bruce Adler

Board Member Kelii Chock, Co-Founder of Picture Clean Consulting, has been instrumental in cultivating new community partnerships and developing an innovative rolling strategic planning timeline. This valuable tool organizes and aligns our strategic planning with day-to-day needs, and helps us make better, more timely decisions.

Kelii has also played a major role in two of our major annual events. He served as chairperson for our 2025 Bowl-A-Thon, which, under his leadership, generated the highest net profit in the history of the event. And for years, he helped coordinate the highly popular and successful Helicopter Ball drop at our annual golf event. Kelii will continue to be a big supporter of SOK’s mission and events.

Bruce Adler

Board Member David Shultis is the Co-Founder of Red Panda Systems, a Las Vegas IT company. During his tenure, David and his company used their expertise to implement new computers and tools that enabled SOK to operate more efficiently and effectively. David’s team will continue to support SOK with technical assistance and expertise, and we are thankful for their ongoing support.

SOK Partner Profiles

SOK Partner Profiles

Serving Our Kids Foundation is incredibly grateful for the many community partners who stand with us in the fight against child hunger. Their generosity—through financial contributions, food drives, volunteer hours, and creative fundraising events—helps ensure that food-insecure elementary school children across the Las Vegas Valley have reliable weekend meals and the chance to focus on learning.

“Together, we made an impact.” Avison Young truly lived up to those words this year.

Serving Our Kids is deeply grateful to Suzette LaGrange, Principal and Managing Director at Avison Young, who met with us and immediately rallied her team to support food-insecure children across the Las Vegas Valley.

For Avison Young’s Annual Day of Giving, the team dedicated their efforts to creating weekend meal bags for our students. But their commitment didn’t stop there:

  • They collected much-needed Ramen and applesauce squeezers, helping us fill critical gaps in our meal bags.
  • They organized an internal competition, gathering more than 45 fundraising items to support Serving Our Kids’ Annual Golf Event fundraiser.
  • They then went even further by sponsoring a Pickleball event, bringing together many of their community partners and raising an impressive $5,933.14 for Serving Our Kids. These funds will be used to purchase food items to create even more weekend meal bags.

Because of Avison Young’s energy, creativity, and generosity, hundreds of children received consistent, kid-friendly meals to carry them through the weekend.

We are thankful and grateful to everyone at Avison Young and their community partners for standing with us and helping take real steps toward ending child hunger in our community.

 


Serving Our Kids Foundation is honored to highlight one of our outstanding community partners: BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association International). This year, BOMA selected Serving Our Kids as their charity of choice—and their commitment has had a direct, meaningful impact on food-insecure elementary school children across the Las Vegas Valley.

Throughout the year, BOMA members have gone above and beyond to support our mission, including:

  • Hosting a Food Drive that helped fill our shelves and ensured more weekend food bags could be delivered to students in need.
  • Providing generous funding, strengthening our ability to purchase essential, kid friendly food items.

  • Organizing creative and engaging fundraising events such as “Putt and Wine,” bringing the community together in support of local children.

By combining financial support, food donations, and awareness-building events, BOMA has helped ensure that more kids can focus on learning and dreaming about their future—instead of worrying about their next meal.

We are deeply grateful to BOMA and its members for their partnership, generosity, and trust in our work. Together, we are moving closer to a future without hunger—and a future without limits—for the children we serve.

 


What a great group indeed!

Serving Our Kids Foundation is honored to recognize KTNV Channel 13 and its incredible partners for their outstanding support during the “Feeding The Future” campaign this September.

A heartfelt thank you to John Cook, Vice President and General Manager at KTNV Channel 13, for coordinating this month-long effort. Through the generosity and collaboration of Findlay Subaru, America First, and Ed Bernstein, the campaign resulted in the creation of more than 1,300 weekend meal bags for food-insecure children in our community.

We were especially grateful to receive:

  • A generous check presentation from Burton Hughes, Subaru of Las Vegas, and
  • A special $2,500 donation from News 13, representing contributions gathered through their campaign.

These gifts translate directly into food and hope for the children we serve, ensuring they have reliable meals to carry them through the weekend.

We deeply appreciate the support, generosity, and commitment of KTNV Channel 13 and all of their partners for helping us feed the future—one child at a time.

 


 

Sundance Helicopters Takes Our Golf Fundraiser to New Heights.Talk about a “high-flying” highlight!

Serving Our Kids Foundation was thrilled to partner with Sundance Helicopters, a premier helicopter transportation provider specializing in utility and charter services for corporate clients, for a spectacular golf ball drop at our annual golf event.

From high above the course, a Sundance helicopter released a cascade of numbered golf balls over the target hole, creating an unforgettable “closest to the hole” fundraiser that added excitement, energy, and fun for everyone on the ground—while raising critical dollars to support weekend meal bags for food-insecure children across the Las Vegas Valley.

A special shout out to Chris and Kyle, pilots for Sundance Helicopters. For the past two years, Chris and Kyle have generously donated their time and talent to help Serving Our Kids raise thousands of dollars through this unique golf ball drop experience.

We are deeply grateful to Sundance Helicopters—and to Chris and Kyle—for their continued partnership, creativity, and commitment to helping us make a lasting impact for the kids we serve.


 

Celebrating Youth Leadership: Thank You, David Jelinsky

Serving Our Kids Foundation is proud to recognize David Jelinsky, a 2023–2024 Serving Our Kids Supervisor and dedicated volunteer, for his outstanding fundraising efforts on our behalf.

David recently participated in the Live to Give event—a series of weekend games designed to educate the public about charities making an impact locally, nationally, and globally. During these events, individuals from across the country share stories about organizations that have personally touched their lives. To date, Live to Give has raised over $200,000 for more than 93 charities through these games alone.

David chose Serving Our Kids Foundation as his charity, using his voice, time, and energy to raise funds and awareness for food-insecure children across the Las Vegas Valley. His efforts directly support our mission of ensuring kids can dream of the future instead of dreaming about food.

Congratulations, David—and thank you for your generosity, support, and leadership. You are an inspiring example of how one committed young person can make a meaningful difference.

Lift Tech: A Broken Door is an Invitation

A chance meeting between Brian Kangas, owner of Lift Tech Garage Door Services. and SOK CEO Laurie Tanakaya opened the door to a unique partnership. Lift Tech has been installing and servicing residential and commercial garage doors and gates throughout the Las Vegas valley since 2014.

“I was looking at a new space for Lift Tech right across the street from the Serving Our Kids offices,” Brian said. “I stopped in and asked Laurie for the landlord’s phone number and we started talking about Serving Our Kids.”

“I had no idea that food insecurity was such a huge problem in the valley,” he continued. “It’s hard to get your mind around. I was shocked by the need. But when she showed me what Serving Our Kids does and how they’re making an impact, I was blown away.”

Brian grew up in a poor family that sometimes relied on food and other assistance from his church. In their 20s, he and his wife struggled with food insecurity at times. So, he understands the importance of community organizations like SOK, especially when it comes to child hunger.

“Kids can’t do anything about it,” he stated. “The adults have to step up and handle it.”

Lift Tech has a history of giving back to the Henderson community they love whenever they can and wherever it can make a real impact. SOK was a perfect match.

“When our warehouse door went off the rails, of course, I called Brian,” Laurie said. “He fixed it right away, but wouldn’t charge us for the repairs. He said he didn’t want to divert any funds from feeding our kids.”

“We wish we could do more,” Brian said. “We love their mission and their perseverance over the years is amazing. And their volunteers are incredible. Our 15-year-old daughter is a volunteer.

“We’re putting up a banner in our shop for customers to see,” he added. “It’ll have a QR code so they can donate or sign up to volunteer on the spot. And we’re giving a portion of every Lift Tech sale to Serving Our Kids.”

Lift Tech is also providing golf towels for all participants at our 14th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser in November.

“We will help in any way we can,” Brian said. “Hopefully in a bigger way in years to come.”

SOK partners come in all shapes and sizes from large corporations to small, family-owned businesses like Lift Tech. They all have one thing in common: A big heart that’s in the right place.

BRAND: Our Fearless, Authentic, Marketing Team

BRAND, a full-service branding, marketing and communications firm, celebrates their 25th Anniversary in 2025. They develop national brands in emerging industries and have worked with some of the city’s most prestigious hospitality brands. They also serve clients in the commercial real estate development, consumer packaged goods, spirits, medical and wealth consulting industries.

Each year, the Henderson, Nevada, Chamber of Commerce Foundation sponsors Leadership Henderson, an intensive, nine-month program dedicated to educating and empowering effective community leaders. The Leadership Henderson Class of 2024 selected SOK as its community service project.

Class member Virginia Martino, BRAND’s Founder and CEO, volunteered her team to help develop and execute a comprehensive, five-year marketing plan, which included integrated advertising and PR campaigns designed to explode community awareness of SOK’s mission, significantly increase participation and donations from individuals and businesses, and secure SOK’s long-term financial stability.

BRAND created the “We’re Feeding Their Dreams” campaign and our new website, which includes a seamless, efficient way for people to donate and volunteer. They have promoted our fundraising events and helped make them more successful than ever.

BRAND helped develop and implement effective public relations and advertising campaigns. And they have created invaluable partnerships with KSNV/News 3 and other local media companies that continue to exponentially increased awareness of our brand, mission, objectives, needs, fundraising events, partnerships and accomplishments throughout Southern Nevada.

Together, these efforts have attracted new donors and committed corporate partners, and generated significant new revenue to support, improve and expand our operations.

Partner Profile:Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas

Partner Profile:
Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas

For more than 60 years, this recognized leader in off-road adventures has thrilled millions of guests as they explore the natural wonders of Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee and Missouri.

Pink Jeep has served thousands of people in their communities by supporting charities and organizations that make a meaningful impact, especially those focused on the health, education and well-being of children.

We’re proud to include Pink Jeep Tours Las Vegas among the ranks of our generous partners. From fundraising to volunteering, the Pink Jeep team helps Serving Our Kids create weekend meal bags and create a brighter future for food-insecure children in Southern Nevada. They truly believe that real adventure includes giving back and lifting up the communities they call home.

Partner Profile:Ford Country A Driving Force Behind Serving Our Kids

Partner Profile:
Ford Country A Driving Force Behind Serving Our Kids

Ford Country has long been one of our most dedicated community champions. This award-winning, family-owned dealership in Henderson traces its roots back to 1922 when George Gaudin, grandfather of current owner Gary Ackerman, began selling Fords in California.

That legacy lives on in Ford Country’s commitment to serving our customers and our community. We believe in giving back by supporting impactful organizations like Serving Our Kids that provide critical help to those who need it most.

Ford Country’s passion for Serving Our Kids is part of a larger culture of compassion that starts at the top. Owner Gary Ackerman has a long history of championing causes that benefit vulnerable members of our community.

“Gary is the father of a son on the autism spectrum,” shares Julie Cane, Chief Engagement Officer of Gaudin Motor Company, parent company of Ford Country. “After years of navigating challenges to find proper care, he helped launch the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation Ackerman Center in partnership with the UNLV School of Medicine. He’s also a proud supporter of Shine A Light, which helps individuals living in the underground flood channels of Las Vegas.”

Gary’s personal motto, “Do your best and do the right thing,” is one of the core values that continues to shape Ford Country’s company culture. And the belief passed down from George Gaudin, “Serving our clients and our community is more than what we do – it’s who we are,” still rings true throughout the dealership today.

“Our team absolutely loves Serving Our Kids,” Julie says. “After Laurie Tanakaya visited and spoke with us, so many team members signed up to volunteer right then and there. It really inspired a movement across the company.”

Ford Country hosts an annual donation drive for Serving Our Kids, participates in quarterly meal bagging events, and actively supports SOK fundraisers. Team members even bring their children along, fostering a new generation of community-minded volunteers. And yes, even Gary shows up to help.

For many at Ford Country, SOK’s mission is deeply personal.

“A number of our team members experienced food insecurity as children,” Julie explains. “But even if you haven’t lived it, you can imagine the heartbreak of a child going hungry. That’s why we’re all in on Serving Our Kids. Every child deserves to feel full, safe, and supported.”

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