Looking for a Good Cause for “Giving Tuesday”?

OK, on Thanksgiving Thursday we gorge on turkey and stuffing (and football).

Then comes Black Friday, a shoppers’ day primarily at the big box and chain retailers.

Which is followed by Small Business Saturday, when we’re encouraged to buy from local merchants (in between college football games!).

On Sunday, of course, we rest (and watch more football!).

And that’s followed by Cyber Monday (today, including Monday Night Football!), when all the online retailers get a whack at our wallets.

But tomorrow is a new, very special day – Giving Tuesday – “a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season” (without football!).

I hadn’t heard of “Giving Tuesday” until this weekend, but it sounds like an excellent idea. And if you’d like to participate, I humbly have an excellent suggestion for your consideration…

Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School is located in North Las Vegas and has an enrollment of 695 students – of which, according to Principal Tim Adams, 10 percent are homeless and 100 percent are living in poverty based on federal standards.

Now here’s something I didn’t know: Public schools have the option of being a “uniform” or “uniform” facility. The benefit of going “non-uniform” is that all the kids wear the same thing so there’s no competition among peers to wear the latest and greatest (and expensive) fashions of the day.

Reynaldo Martinez is a “uniform” school. However, the school district does not pay for the uniforms, and many of the parents at this particular school can’t afford food, let alone the $12-15 for the school uniforms – especially since kids grow out of them so fast.

“School needs are usually the last thought of by a family in poverty,” wrote Principal Adams in an email. “School uniforms and school supplies are not basic needs, but they are needed.”

Enter Bobby and Sandy Ellis.

Mr. & Mrs. Ellis are very generous Las Vegans who have led numerous private efforts to help those in need who have difficulty helping themselves…including UNLV’s football team!

Just kidding, Bobby. Just kidding.

But seriously, a month ago Bobby and Sandy set out to raise $20,000 from friends and associates to help buy uniforms and other school supplies for kids at Reynaldo Martinez – including food for students in need on weekends.

And in an email I received from Bobby on Saturday, they have so far raised $15,600…including my own personal donation to this wonderful effort.

Which leaves them just $4,400 short of their goal.

So if you’re looking for a really good cause to support tomorrow for “Giving Tuesday,” might I respectfully suggest this ad hoc project.

We’re not the government. We’re not a charity. We’re not a church. We’re not a community organization.

We’re just a bunch of individual Nevadans and Nevada companies pitching in to fill a need and help some of our fellow Nevadans because…well, because it’s a good idea being organized by a good and decent man.

So if you’re so disposed tomorrow, whip out the ol’ checkbook – if there’s anything left in it after this weekend! – and make your check in any amount payable to:

Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School
c/o Bobby Ellis
979 Camelia Drive
Henderson, NV 89011

BONUS!

And for anyone in the Las Vegas* area who donates $500 or more, I’ll come to your home and shovel the snow off your sidewalk for the entire month of December! I mean, how could you possibly turn down a deal like that?!!

Thank you all for your kind consideration!

P.S. By the way and in case you didn’t know, the day after tomorrow is “Chuck Muth Wednesday.” I think you all know what to do, right?

* (Offer not valid in the Mt. Charleston area or at any other elevation above 1,000 feet)