Las Vegas Philippine American Lions Club

ABOUT THE LAS VEGAS PHILIPPINE AMERICAN LIONS CLUB

The Philippine American Lions Club was chartered in 2003 with Lion Kate Recto as the Charter President. Following Lion Kate Recto as King Lions of our Club were:

Lion Marlon Multo - LY 2004 - 2005

Lion Ben Torres - LY 2005-2006

Lion Rick Inting - LY 2006-2007

Lion Ceasar Elpidio - LY 2007-2008

Lion Atty. Rex Velasquez - LY 2008-2009

Lion Josie Harrison - LY 2009-2010

Lion Kristen Velasquez - LY 2010-2011

Lion Marilyn Ante - LY 2011-2012

Lion Salve Vargas Edelman - LY 2012-2013

Our Club is comprised of business owners, professionals, educators, retirees, and private and government sector employees. The Club's mission is to primarily provide community projects and services to the Filipino-American communities within metro Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Secondary support is targeted to worthy projects in the Philippines such as the Gawad Kalinga, Gilas, and support of various Disaster Relief, both domestic and international, as well as community service projects such as: Blind Center of Nevada, Lions Sight First Foundation, Shade Tree, First Choice, Lord of Harvest Christian Church, St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Roman Catholic Church, and John F. Miller School for Special Education.

Starting from Lion Years 2003 to present, your Las Vegas Philippine American Lions Club has accomplished the following events and community projects: (please click or go to the GALLERY tab to view photos taken from the following events):

Accomplishments for the Year 2012-2013

For the month of July:

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - Donated a jumbo box full of used clothing, shopping bags of toiletries, and toys to Shade Tree for homeless women and children in Southern Nevada

Thursday, July 26, 2012 - Donated a jumbo shopping bag full of baby blankets and coins to First Choice Pregnancy Services

Friday, July 27, 2012 - Donated shopping bags and boxes of food and water for the homeless families of Las Vegas at the Food Distribution Center of Lord of Harvest Christian Church

For the month of August:

Sunday, August 12, 2012 - Donated 48 office chairs to the Lord of Harvest Christian Church, courtesy of Wyndham Resorts International, c/o Elena Tapusoa, the Facility Manager.

Monday, August 13, 2012 - Will cook, serve, perform, and entertain members of the Blind Center of Nevada

Student Speaker Program - Chair, Kristen Velasquez

For the month of September:

Saturday, September 1, 2012 - Attended the Las Vegas Filipinos Lions Club Induction of Officers. King Lion Salve sang the US National Anthem and presented our donation of $500.00 to Lions Sight First Foundation of Southern Nevada.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - Summerlin Lions Club sponsors a joint event at the State-of-the-Art Campus of Opportunity Village on South Buffalo, north of 215 Beltway at 7:00 p.m.

For the month of October:

Sunday, October 7, 2012 - Attended the Las Vegas Chinatown Lions Club Autumn Moon Festival and Fundraising Event at the Spanish Trails. King Lion Salve, Lion Paul, Lion Rex, and Lion Kristen attended the event.

Sunday, October 16, 2012 - King Lion Salve, Lion Edna, and Lion Marilyn attended the ABS-CBN Fundraising Concert to benefit the indigent children in the Philippines, featuring the world-renowned Filipino Pianist, Dr. Rico Sunico and the Concert King Martin Nievera at the Smith Center.

Sunday, October 21, 2012 - Joint Fundraising "Bowl-A-Thon" Event held at the Texas Station Hotel and Casino by the Las Vegas Professionals Lions Club, Las Vegas Filipinos Lions Club, and the Las Vegas Phlippine American Lions Club! Everyone had a great time! Congratulations to all the winners! Special thanks to our District Governor Lia Versaevel for gracing our event!

For the month of November:

Sunday, November 18, 2012 - Donated Thanksgiving Food to St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Roman Catholic Church during their Annual Community Outreach for the indigent people in Southern Nevada.

Friday, November 30, 2012 - Over 91 volunteers participated and volunteered at the Magical Forest of Opportunity Village!

For the month of December:

Friday, December 7, 2012 - Officers and members of the Las Vegas Professionals Lions Club and the Las Vegas Philippine American Lions Club led by KL Linda Campued and KL Salve Vargas Edelman dropped off over 50 boxes of Paper Towels and Wipes for the students of the John F. Miller School for Special Education as a result of a very successful Fundraising "Bowl-A-Thon" Event held on October 21, 2012! Great job Lions!

Sunday, December 9, 2012 - KL Salve dropped bags of toiletries at the St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Roman Catholic Church during their Community Outreach for Christmas to benefit the homeless in Southern Nevada. 'Tis the Season to be giving! Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 15, 2012 - KL Salve, Lion Tusi, Lion Paul, Lion Steve, and Lion Jun attended the NAFFAA Christmas Party at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino for 70s Disco Party! Everyone had a great time!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - Joint Meeting, Christmas Potluck Party, and Exchange Gifts! Great food and great friends! Everyone had a great time meeting new people and potential new members! Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

For the month of January, 2013:

New Year's Eve Party at Turnberry Place to celebrate the New Year with a Big Bang! Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - Monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 2960 S. Durango, Suite 116. A visit from officers and members of Summerlin Lions Club! Welcome fellow Lions!

For the Month of February, 2013:

Gong Hay Fat Choy! Chinese New Year - Year of the Snake!

Cabinet Meeting: February 8-9, 2013 at the Hampton Inn, Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV

Chinese New Year Celebration: February 8-10, 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013 - Chinese New Year/Las Vegas Spring Festival Parade from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Various Lions Clubs are participating in the Parade!

Monday, February 11, 2013 - District Governor Lia Versaevel's Official Visitation, Fraternal Order of Eagles Clubhouse, 1601 Washington, 6:30 p.m. Various Lions Clubs Officers will be in attendance.

For the Month of March:

Sunday, March 17, 2013 - Happy St. Patrick's Day! Annual Bowling Tournament and Fundraising Event at Texas Station Hotel and Casino at 1:00 p.m. Various Lions Clubs, Community Leaders, Business Leaders, and organizations participated, attended, and donated! A very successful event! Thanks a million to everyone who helped, assisted, donated, and participated. We greatly appreciate your continued support!

Saturday, March 23, 2013 - Region Student Speaker Contest will be held at the Blind Center of Nevada.

Accomplishments for 2011-2012

July 28 – Aug. 14, 2011 – It was District’s 46 first time hosting the Youth Exchange Program. There were 13 students (ages 16-21) that came from different European countries. Several Lion members opened their homes to house them. They had daily activities/tours to get to know Las Vegas. They spend two (2) weeks in Northern Nevada and two (2) in Southern Nevada. The students spend a week at Lions Camp in California. They had enjoyed their stay, adventures and sightseeing of Las Vegas. It was a learning experience for all of us, but it was fun and memorable. Up to this date, some students still communicates with their host families.
November 18, 2011 – Our club had the biggest participation volunteering at the Opportunity Village Magical Forest. Every year, all different Lions club participates in their event.
January 24-28, 2012 – The club members volunteered in the celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Downtown Fremont Experience wherein the Filipiniana Dance Troupe (some lion members are dancers) was one of the invited entertainers.
January 25, 2012 –Blanket Drive – headed by Salve Edelman – collected 17 blankets and some cash donations from different individuals and was donated to First Choice Pregnancy Services.
February 19, 2012 – The Club’s Bowling Fund Raising at the Texas Station Casino – to raise funds to buy school supplies, toiletries, diapers and baby foods to donate to Variety Early Learning Center- 990 D St., Las Vegas, NV 89106
February 25 to March 10, 2012 – The club participated in the Search for Student Speaker Contest for the Zone and Region, a scholarship program for high school students. Winners received a scholarship.
The club collected used eyeglasses to donate to the Lions in Sight program. These are being cleaned and sorted at the Blind Center and distributed at Lions eye clinics in developing countries.
March 2012 – The club made a donation to the UMC Lions Burn center’s signage. They provide emergency care and rehabilitation for burn victims.
April 25, 2012 – Club collected from the membership and other organization for used clothing, bed sheets, toiletries, etc. to donate to Shade Tree, a shelter for battered women.
May 19, 2012 – Las Vegas HellDorado Parade –Downtown Las Vegas – First time that the Lions Club International with District Gov. Roy Madison along with “Sparky” had participated in this event to show that the” Lions are Alive and Strong”.

Accomplishments for 2008-2009

July 26 - 2008-2009 Fil-Am Lions Club Induction at the Treasure Island. See the complete list of officers, directors, and chairpersons inducted during the event. Visit our photo gallery, too, for photos of the event.

February 14, 2009 - Philippine Consular Outreach, Masonic Memorial Temple. Officers and Members volunteered to help Consul General Mary Jo Aragon and her team process close to 1000 transactions in passport renewals, dual citizenships, notarial, and overseas absentee voting.

March 28, 2009 - The Club's 2nd Queen Lion Pageant Fundraising Ball held at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino. Queen Lion Maritess Guerrero, First Princess Lion Beverly Elpidio and Second Princess Marilyn Ante-Dillon were crowned and congratulated for their tremendous fundraising efforts. Proceeds of the event were distributed to the following beneficiaries: Gawad Kalinga, Lions SightFirst Foundation, Dr. Aragon's Free Clinic, Lion Judge Frank Sullivan's Family Reunification Picnic, and other local Las Vegas charities.

May 16, 2009 - Las Vegas Helldorado Parade, Downtown, Las Vegas, NV. This is the 5th consecutive year that the Fil-Am Lions, the NaFFAA, Bikolnon Association, Filipiniana Cultural Arts Foundation, Fil-Am Heritage Foundation, and various local Fil-Am associations participated in.

June 6, 2009 - First Annual Fiesta Filipino Event to be held at the Sammy Davis Jr., Festival Plaza, Lorenzi Park, Las Vegas, NV. The Fil-Am Lions Club is a co-sponsor and volunteer for this event.

June 7 2009 - Fil-Am Lions Club's Strategic Planning Workshop for the new officers of Lion Year 2009-2010. This is the planning workshop to chart the Club's goals and activities for the next 12 months.

June 20, 2009 - Fiesta Filipino Gala Night to be held at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. This is the culminiating event for the Fiesta Filipino where outstanding Fil-Am citizens are recognized for their community services. Boxing sensation, Manny Pacquiao, and other local celebrities are expected to attend.

August 1, 2009 - Induction of Officers and new members for Lion Year 2009-2010. King Lion Josie Harrison will took over the helm from immediate past president, Lion Rex Velasquez. The event was filled with lots of dances, food, and laughs in a Hawaiian Luau setting at the Bugsy's Banquet Hall. About 250 members and guests showed up for this fun-filled induction.

July, 2007 - Provided Immigration and Citizenship Education/Orientation community outreach headed by Lion Atty. Rex Velasquez (30 hours)

September, 2007 - Responded to a needy family's request for eye exam and eye glasses for a high school student. Request completed and granted within 24 hours.

October 6, 2007 - Vision Screening at the Seafood City Mall in cooperation with three other Lions Clubs. 50 Screenings completed and nine processed applications for eye care assistance.

November 17, 2007 - Second Vision Screening and Flu Shot Clinic at the Seafood City Mall in cooperation with 3 other Lions Clubs, the NaFFAA, and the Southern Nevada Health District. 49 vision Screenings completed, five processed for eye care assistnace, and 40 flu shots provided by the SN Health District.

November 30, 2007 - Completed a "Casino and Ballroom Dancing Night" at the Marine Corps Detachment Center to raise funds and kick-off the Christmas Holiday season.

December, 2007 - Caroling Fundraising at various homes, parties for kids or elderly. Partnered with the Bikolnon Association of Las Vegas to raise funds for the Safe House, Toys for Tots Campaign, Lions SightFirst Foundation, and Gawad Kalinga.

January and February, 2008 - Joined the LV Professionals Lions Club and other civic organizations to support their fundraising campaigns while preparing for our Queen Lion Pageant and Coronation Ball scheduled for March 29, 2008.

March 8, 2008 - The largest combined community service project with three Lions Clubs, the NaFFAA, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Nursing Association, the Boy Scouts of America, the Leo Club, Seafood City Supermarkets, and dozens of business sponsors at the Seafood City Mall. Over 50 vision screenings completed, 40 blood pressure screenings, and 35 FREE flu shots provided by the PMA-Nevada Chapter, under the leadership of Dr. Manny Taguba. The PNA was headed by its President, Cristy Sampal.

May 17, 2008 - The Helldorado Parade. The parade was the biggest representation of Filipino-Asian communities. We had about 100 parade participants during this event. We hope to exceed and doubloe the number of participants to for next year's Helldorado Parade.

June 14 - Community Health and Wellness Fair at the Seafood City Mall, 1-5 pm. This is one of the largest community health and wellness event for the Club under the auspices of the NaFFAA-Nevada Chapter. We have strong participation from Desert Springs Hospital, Bayer Diabetes Treatment Center, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Dental Avenue, the Lions SightFirst Foundation, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Nurses Association, Southern Nevada Health District, Good Shepherd Rehab, Clear Waters School of Yoga, and numerous sponsoring organizations such as the Seafood City, Filipino Business Directory, CIE Farmers Insurance, Legru, Oras ng Ligaya, Philippine Times, Chow King, Jollibee, Gimik, WellsFargo, Wellcare Pharmacy, and many other proud sponsors.