Miracle Flights Celebrated 40 Years with SOARée Fundraiser
Miracle Flights, an organization that provided free commercial flights to children and their families in need of life-changing medical care unavailable in their local communities, brought back SOARée just in time for its 40th-anniversary celebration.
This unique fundraiser took place on Friday, March 28th, at the luxurious and modern Thrive Aviation Private Jet Hangar.
Guests enjoyed cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and exciting entertainment fitting the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas.
At the end of the night, three lucky couples had the chance to win a lavish weekend in Sonoma County aboard their private jet, complete with exclusive accommodations, car service, and an unforgettable experience, all valued at $20,000. The plane departed immediately after the event.
This year’s SOARée honored former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Blackhurst and a local Miracle Flights recipient, Asher.
Becky, Asher’s mother, expressed, “We were so grateful to Miracle Flights for giving Asher a better quality of life and helping him reach a point where his condition was no longer life-threatening. Words can never fully convey our gratitude for this honor and privilege as we celebrated Asher as Miracle Flights’ Child Ambassador of the Year.”
Asher was 18 months old when he received his first Miracle Flight to treat his Grade 4 Subglottic Stenosis, which caused a complete closure of his airway. This condition required him to depend on a tracheostomy. He traveled to Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, Massachusetts.
“We had just returned home to Vegas from Boston’s Mass Eye & Ear, a Harvard teaching hospital dedicated to eye, ear, nose, throat, head, and neck care,” noted Becky, Asher’s mother. “Our son had a bronchoscopy with an ENT who specialized in airway reconstruction. The entire experience, from start to finish, went perfectly. It was our first time flying with our medically complex baby, and we could not have asked for a better outcome. We received the news we had hoped for: Asher was a great candidate for airway reconstruction surgery. This would provide him with a safe airway and a voice. We had never heard Asher’s voice—not a single coo or babble; even when he cried, it was completely silent. We were so grateful for this opportunity to provide him with a better quality of life and to reach a point where his condition was no longer life-threatening. This would not have been possible without the assistance of Miracle Flights. Words could never fully express our gratitude.”
Asher had his airway reconstruction surgery on September 4th at Mass General in Boston, Massachusetts.
The surgery went well, with no complications. The surgeon successfully removed the rib cartilage and placed the rib graft in his airway, which took about four hours.
Since the surgery, Asher has tried new foods. On September 23rd, his mother shared a video titled “Look who has a voice!”
Miracle Flights continued to fly the family wherever they needed to go to get treatment.
Third Annual Dazzle Africa Imagine Gala
The third Dazzle Africa Imagine Gala was held at Treasure Island on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, in support of anti-poaching, clean water, and education for the rural communities of Zambia.
The evening started off with a cocktail reception where guest were able to bid on unique auction items, followed by a sit-down dinner, live entertainment, a live auction and motivational speakers from Zambia and the organization itself.
About Dazzle Africa:
Dazzle Africa is the only registered non-profit (that we are aware of) to offer award-winning safaris as well as giving back hundreds of thousands of dollars to conservation, education, and clean water projects each year! Dazzle Africa donated more than $500,000.00 to our local projects in Zambia in 2023 alone. We not only provide luxury safari experiences for our guests, but also lift the veil with optional cultural excursions so that our guests have an authentic and soulful safari experience. We are fortunate enough to fulfill these experiences through our unique relationships with renowned conservationists in Zambia.
Heroes Fore Kids Charity Weekend
– by The LV Experience – Leave a Comment
Real-life superhero Jeremy Renner and his sister, Kym Renner, co-founders of the RennerVation Foundation, delivered an epic Heroes Fore Kids Charity Weekend in Las Vegas, all in support of Nevada’s foster youth. The action-packed two-day event, held October 19-20, brought together stars, supporters, and fans for a whirlwind of fun—poker, golf, bowling, and an all-star concert.
The weekend kicked off with a high-stakes Poker Showdown with celebrity players like Greg Maddux, Mekhi Phifer, and TJ Lavin. After some intense hands, Michael Russell took first place, followed by Margaret Zampino and Adam Stone. Winners walked away with Ritmo Mundo watches, and other finalists snagged Milestone Satellite prizes.
Once the poker chips were cashed in, guests hit the Juliet Cocktail Room at The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas for a posh Welcome Celebration, where they mingled with notables like Chris Harrison, Richard Kind, Timothy Busfield, Richard Zander and Festus Ezeli.
The fun kept rolling on day two with a Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament and a bonus long-drive accuracy contest using Uneekor’s EYE MINI tech to track players’ swings. It was all smiles as the participating High School team (Samantha Harris, Moriah Wayman, Cameron Combado and Carlos Cataneda) took home a golden trophy landing first place with a score of 129 (-15). Winning the longest drive was Greg Vaughn, while the most accurate drive went to Nate Tilley. Adding to the fun, comedian and Holey Moley host Rob Riggle kept players laughing from tee-off to the final hole.
The weekend’s most heartwarming event came at the Bowling Bonanza at Brooklyn Bowl, where over 100 foster kids joined Jeremy Renner for a day of bowling, games, and connection. To make the event possible RennerVation Foundation partnered with Clark County Family Services, to give these kids a day of fun and to remind them that they are never alone and are always supported in their journey toward success.Plus! All the kids were outfitted with a brand new pair of kicks courtesy of the Katie Grace Foundation.
The grand finale? An All-Star Concert at Brooklyn Bowl, featuring killer performances from Gavin Rossdale, Robin Zander, Robin Thicke, breakout sensation The Scarlet Opera and more. Emceed by Chris Harrison, the night took a heartfelt turn when Jeremy Renner took the stage to celebrate his sister Kym’s birthday and emphasize the critical need to support foster youth.
The RennerVation Foundation’s charity weekend was a smashing success—raising awareness, funds, and spirits for Nevada’s foster youth.
About the RennerVation Foundation
RennerVation Foundation is a youth-focused non-profit, founded by Jeremy Renner, based in Nevada, established in 2023, with a mission to offer children in foster care and at-risk youth the chance to embrace a childhood filled with joy, growth, and belonging. The RennerVation Foundation is dedicated to serving children in foster care and at-risk youth by providing them with a safe haven and targeted programs to develop their skills, confidence and opportunities. We believe that every child deserves a chance to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. Through a combination of mentorship, educational support, and enrichment programs, we strive to empower these youth to overcome challenges and build a brighter future.
For more information on this or other RennerVation Foundation programs and events, please visit www.rennervationfoundation.org