For more years than I can remember, my family has gathered on Thanksgiving to give back to the community by feeding the homeless. Before we have our family meal together, we all head down to Catholic Charities to help serve meals to those less fortunate than us. This act of giving is something I wanted to teach my sons, and we began this tradition when they were young children. I’m blessed that they have wanted to continue this well into their adulthood.
The act of giving is something that Southern Nevadans embrace, although it is often overlooked. Whether it is individuals and businesses donating toys and bicycles to local drives for underprivileged children, or people donning Santa costumes to run through our streets for events benefiting developmentally challenged adults, examples of charity can be seen throughout the community.
For the past three years, I have had the good fortune to lead an institution committed to serving our community. Whether it is our students, faculty and staff volunteering their time with local organizations and events, or more organized activities like food and clothing drives for local nonprofit organizations, Touro University makes sure that service is central to its mission.
Shelley Berkley
Good deeds require that all of us come together to address community needs. When organizations partner together, wonderful things can happen. For instance, the Stallman Touro Clinic at the Shade Tree has been in operation since 2008, providing on-site medical care to the women and children temporarily housed at this shelter for homeless and abused women and children. Staffed by students and faculty from Touro, together with local physicians who volunteer their time, these women and children can now have their medical needs met.
In 2014, Touro launched its first Mobile Healthcare Clinic, which provides free medical care to our community’s homeless population in partnership with Catholic Charities. And just last month, we unveiled a second Mobile Healthcare Clinic, which provides medical care to clients and families at Opportunity Village.
No organization can accomplish its mission in a vacuum. It requires partnerships with other businesses and nonprofits to address the needs of our region. Generous partners like NV Energy, the Engelstad Family Foundation, MGM Resorts Foundation, Zappos, Findlay Automotive Group, and many more are contributing to our community’s philanthropic efforts.
By coming together to address the needs of our community, we see that our collective efforts can make a profound difference. It is important to remember that although the act of giving is expected at this time of year, it must continue throughout the year. The needs of our community don’t end Dec. 31, and our charity must not, either. Touro embraces this commitment all year long and I encourage other leaders who do well in business to also do good. The greatest gift of all is that we get back much more than we’ve given.
Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is CEO and senior provost for Touro’s University’s Western Division.