Mar 31, 2025 | Partner Profile
Serving Our Kids is honored to welcome Bay Law Injury Attorneys as our newest community partner. This Henderson law firm shares our deep commitment to helping children and is joining our fight to end child food insecurity in the Las Vegas valley.
Bay Law Injury Attorneys is a family-owned firm, built by Gokalp “Alp” Bayramoglu, his son Deniz, and daughter Nazly. Dedicated to serving their community, their commitment to excellence has been recognized with awards, such as Best Car Accident Lawyers in Henderson by Expertise.com and Best Accident Firm by the Sin City Chamber of Commerce.
“At our very first meeting, Bay Law agreed to become the Presenting Sponsor of our 17th Annual Bowl-A-Thon, and they scheduled a team bagging event,” said CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “They’re already making an important contribution to our mission.”
“We’re looking forward to a long-term partnership with this incredible organization,” said Deniz Bayramoglu, Managing Attorney of Bay Law. “We wanted to expand our outreach to the community, especially to children in need. And when we heard about how Serving Our Kids helps feed thousands of hungry kids every week… How could we not get involved?
“It’s always been important to us that our work extends beyond the courtroom and into our community,” Deniz added. “We built our business here and raised our families here. And we have a responsibility to give back to the people who make our community so special. Supporting Serving Our Kids lets us do this in a truly meaningful way.”
Mar 31, 2025 | Events
OK, maybe that isn’t the best headline. But it’s time for all Vegas valley keglers to polish your balls, whet your pencils and plan to attend the 17th Annual SOK Bowl-A-Thon.
Even if you don’t know the difference between a 7–10 split and a banana split, bowling is tons of fun for everyone. And our Bowl-A-Thon is a great way to support SOK’s mission to end child hunger in Southern Nevada.
This is one of our most popular events and only a few lanes are still available. So, register now and reserve your lane before they’re gone.
Save The Date:
Sunday April 27th
Become A Sponsor
A $3,000 Event Production Sponsor gets your company an extra-large name and logo banner, recognition on our website and social sites, shout-outs during the event, and a lane for your team of up to five bowlers.
A $1,500 Raffle Sponsor gets your company a name and logo banner, recognition on our website, social sites and at the event, and a lane for your team of up to five bowlers.
Sponsor A Lane
$600 reserves a lane for your team of up to five bowlers and gives you on-site and online recognition as a Lane Sponsor.
Register Your Team
$350 reserves a lane for your team of up to five bowlers.
Make The Scene:
Sunset Station Strike Zone
1301 West Sunset Road in Henderson
From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Sign-in begins at 10:00 AM
Whether you’re Sergeant Strike, Captain Hook or Major Gutterball, join the fun at the 17th Annual SOK Bowl-A-Thon and help feed the dreams of thousands of hungry kids.
Mar 31, 2025 | Volunteer Spotlight
We value each and every one of our volunteer Crusaders. Without them, SOK couldn’t even hope to fulfill our mission to help end child hunger in Southern Nevada. We know the schools and the kids we serve appreciate them, too. But it’s rare that other people in the community recognize our volunteers for the critical work they do.
On March 13th, Dawn Langdon finished her meal bag deliveries and stopped at Trader Joe’s in Henderson. The cashier noticed Dawn’s uniform and asked about Serving Our Kids.
“Dawn has been a fantastic volunteer for more than two years,” said CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “She’s one of our regular drivers and takes meal bags to several schools each week. She fosters strong partnerships with these schools. She volunteers at our events. Any time we have a need, Dawn jumps in to help.”
As Dawn explained who we are and what we do, she saw the young grocery bagger named Cullen was also listening, and kinda staring at her. When he suddenly turned and walked away, Dawn thought she’d said something that Cullen didn’t like or maybe he had a “difference of opinion.”
Shortly after Dawn left the store, she heard a voice call out, “Wait!” and saw Cullen running to catch up with her. Had she left something at the checkout counter? No. He handed Dawn a bouquet of beautiful flowers and said, “Thank you for doing what you do.”
“I was speechless,” she wrote on social media. “Thank you Cullen for putting a smile on my face and a lil faith in my heart”
“We are so thankful Dawn is an SOK volunteer,” Laurie said. “And so thankful to Cullen for recognizing how special she is.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Awards
Our crusading crew of more than 200 generous, dedicated volunteers has won the 2024 Stars of Nevada – Governor’s Points of Light Award for Non-Profit Volunteer Program of the year. This is Nevada’s highest honor for extraordinary achievement in volunteerism and service.
The awards celebrate individuals and organizations who model the values of service, cooperation and compassion. They recognize volunteers who invest their time and talents in helping Nevada’s youth, seniors, veterans, serving military and first responders.
A panel of 22 judges from various Nevada communities and Nevada Volunteers, the primary resource center for volunteer organizations throughout the state, selected the winners in 10 categories.
“Serving Our Kids relies on our incredible team of volunteers to help create and deliver more than 4,000 weekend meal bags every week,” said SOK CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “They are so deserving of this award, they are true community crusaders.”
Laurie entered SOK in the competition and asked Volunteer Coordinator Fran Sarkett to represent SOK throughout the evaluation process. Fran was interviewed by the nominating committee and prepared a short “walk-up” video about SOK’s mission and volunteer crusaders. She was also nominated for Volunteer Manager of the Year.
“When people volunteer for an organization, they have to show up,” Fran stated. “Our people show up and they bring their friends. That’s the only way we get things done. The only way we can serve 4,000 hungry kids every week. I was thrilled just to learn we were a finalist.”
The awards ceremony, hosted by Caesar’s Entertainment on October 24th at the Paris Hotel and casino Champagne Ballroom, was a true Las Vegas event and a worthy tribute to thousands of volunteers who provide essential services and support in almost every community in Nevada. Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony was on hand to thank the volunteers and organizations for their hard work and dedication.
At the moment of truth, Fran and representatives from the two other finalist programs were led to the stage and waited in silence for the verdict.
“My heart was beating so fast,” Fran recalled. “Then it hit me. Holy cow! We’re first!”
The ballroom erupted in applause led by the cheers and fist pumping from Laurie, SOK Chairwoman Lauri Perdue, Vice Chairman and Treasurer Greg Hogan, and volunteer crusaders Karen Victor, Jackie Hunsaker, Andi Ahart, Andrea Stobierski and Pam Kowell at the SOK table. Fran’s walk-up video played as she stepped to the podium to accept the award.
“I was stunned,” Fran said. “But I remember thinking, just don’t say anything stupid!”
Her short speech was vintage Fran. She thanked SOK, our volunteer supervisors and all of our volunteer meal baggers. Then she instructed the audience to go to servingourkids.org and make a donation to support our 13th Annual Golf Tournament.
“I thought, I’m here, everyone’s paying attention, so I should talk about fundraising,” she said. “Hey, why not create some buzz about the Golf Ball Drop? The audience seemed to appreciate it!
“This is a really big deal,” she continued. “We’re the top non-profit volunteer program in the state. It means a lot to be recognized for doing a good job, but it also gives SOK and our mission a big boost. It generates more community awareness and hopefully more support and involvement.”
Fran believes that’s critical because the problem of food insecurity in Southern Nevada seems to be rapidly growing out of control. Last year, there were 90,000 food-insecure kids in Clark County alone. This year, there are 113,000.
“I can’t imagine how bad it would be if schools didn’t have weekday meal programs and Serving Our Kids didn’t provide weekend meal bags,” Fran said. “If this award helps us feed one more hungry kid for one school year, it’s worth a lot more than an Oscar.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Volunteer Profile
If there was a Mount Rushmore for volunteers, Scott Rice’s face would be chiseled in stone. A Business Systems Analyst with NV Energy, Scott’s workweek is dedicated to developing solutions that improve the efficiency of the utility’s Metering Services and Billing departments. But a big chunk of his free time is dedicated to serving others in his community.
“I’ve been volunteering ever since I was a kid,” Scott recalled. “It was always something I just wanted to do.
“I enlisted in the Navy and traveled the world for 11 years,” he continued. “I got to meet people in developing countries and see how they lived. I saw so many children growing up in the worst conditions. It motivated me to give back my community whenever I could.”
Since then, Scott has donated hundreds of hours to support dozens of community events and charitable causes. He volunteers at his local Irish Club even though he’s officially only one percent Irish. He volunteers as his community’s Easter Bunny. And this confessed “Halloween extremist” even volunteers his home, transforming it into one of Henderson’s most popular haunted houses.
Scott also volunteers with NV Energy. NV Energy, its Foundation and employees contributed more than $5.3 million to support hundreds of nonprofit organizations statewide in 2023. This total is made up of both financial and in-kind donations, including the value of employee volunteer hours and workplace charitable giving.
“NV Energy, its Foundation and employees connect with our community through civic leadership, financial contributions and volunteer service,” said Angel Williams, Director of Community Relations at NV Energy. “Volunteerism is at the heart of what we do and our generous team members like Scott help bring our mission to life throughout Southern Nevada.”
Recently, Scott and his NV Energy co-workers volunteered to pack 10,000 weekend meal bags for Serving Our Kids. SOK’s mission to fight child food insecurity resonates deeply with Scott’s personal commitment to helping children.
“The thought of anyone going hungry, especially a child, is… unthinkable,” he said. “Children need food to develop physically and mentally, and be able to reach their full potential. Adults understand they may have to face hard times, but children shouldn’t have to understand. They shouldn’t have to suffer from hunger.
“Child hunger isn’t just a problem in developing countries,” he added. “It’s a problem right here in our neighborhoods. It’s a problem that may never be solved, but if more people would help, it can get better.
“And it really takes so very little to make a difference,” he said. Just a few dollars means a few more kids can eat this weekend. I can’t afford to donate to every organization that needs help. But I can volunteer my time. That’s how I can help, even in a small way, to make a big difference in somebody’s life.”
Jan 3, 2025 | Partner Profile
Since 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) has awarded more than $72 million in grants to support non-profit organizations across America that meet the diverse challenges facing children. From learning disabilities and broken homes to childhood cancer and hunger, SCC works with local charities to help solve problems in their communities and help millions of children build better, brighter, healthier lives.
SCC is the philanthropic arm of Speedway Motorsports Incorporated, which owns 11 world-class race tracks around the country. SCC has local chapters dedicated to serving the communities around eight of these facilities, including the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
For the past five years, the Las Vegas Chapter of SCC has partnered with Serving Our Kids in our crusade to end child hunger in the Las Vegas valley.
“Speedway Children’s Charities provides invaluable support that helps us create weekend meal bags for thousands of hungry kids,” said SOK CEO Laurie Tanakaya. “They truly share our passion for serving children and making a positive impact in our community.”
Paulette Anderson, Director of Speedway Children’s Charities Las Vegas, noted that the chapter’s grants to SOK have steadily increased since the partnership began.
“Everyone here is impressed with how Serving Our Kids is helping food-insecure kids in this community,” Paulette said. “That’s why we’ve supported them over the years.
“The number of food-insecure children in Las Vegas has grown rapidly, especially since the pandemic,” Paulette added. “And now, rising food prices are making it even more difficult for families already struggling to feed their kids.
“Serving Our Kids gives weekend meal bags to 4,000 kids at 95 Clark County schools,” she continued. “So, they can concentrate on learning instead of being hungry. It’s one less thing these children and their parents have to worry about.”
