At Reef Dispensary, part of our mission is to inspire hope in a healthy community. 2019 has been a record year for volunteer hours worked in our local communities. Our team collectively ran over 200km in the Vegas Strong 5k (benefiting victims of October 1), helped in the process of distributing over 13k meals out to our community through Three Square, and volunteered 50+ hours at Opportunity Village.
In addition to volunteer efforts throughout the year, we set up our annual Reef Grants program to provided much-needed financial assistance around the holidays. Reef Grants are cash allocations that to go toward projects or causes nominated by members of our team. This year, the cannabis company selected a record twelve non-profit organizations or in-need individuals to be a part of the Reef Grants program in Nevada, Arizona and now Utah. We are proud to announce the recipients of our third annual Reef Grants program:
Shriner’s Hospitals for Children (Nationwide): A Reef Dispensary team member in the Phoenix-area unfortunately had her arm amputated at birth. Shriner’s provided comprehensive care and took her family under their wing, providing not only prosthetics, but also a ‘fun, loving, caring environment’ and ‘a chance to live a “normal” life.’
Family of Monique Prado (Las Vegas, NV): In the early hours of Thanksgiving day, a member of our extended Reef family was struck and killed by a drunk driver, leaving her children without a mother. A GoFundMe was set up to cover the costs of her funeral and other expenses to help them recover from this tragedy.
Yes Utah/Donors Choice (Salt Lake City, UT): When one of our security team members lost his youngest son in 2010, the veteran of military service and law enforcement took solace in the fact that he and his wife were able to choose organ donation to help improve the lives of others. We all continue to keep his son’s legacy alive by raising awareness for organ donation, in partnership with Yes Utah.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Nationwide): Founded in 1999, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In their urgent mission to save lives, they attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. The organization was nominated by a Las Vegas employee who lost her father-in-law to pancreatic cancer, and invites you to join her in the association’s annual 5K fundraiser.
The Shade Tree (Las Vegas, NV): The Shade Tree is a renowned local organization founded to help victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, street violence, sexual assault/abuse, and human trafficking victims. Their doors are open 24-hours a day to any woman, with or without children, as well as to both male and female unaccompanied youth who lack a safe, adequate place to live.
JDRF (Nationwide): JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Their strength lies in their exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D.
Goodie Two Shoes Foundation (Las Vegas, NV): The Goodie Two Shoes Foundation provides disadvantaged children and children in crisis with new shoes and socks, as well as other items deemed essential for good health and positive development.
The Animal Foundation (Las Vegas, NV): The Animal Foundation is the highest volume single site animal shelter in the country with approximately 28,000 animals entering the facility in 2019. Since 2015, the foundation has been working toward it’s “Mission Possible 2020” goal of zero euthanasia of all healthy and treatable animals entering the shelter by YE 2020. This would be the largest shelter in the country to ever achieve this goal.
Foster Hope Foundation (Tempe, AZ): The foster care issues in Arizona are multifaceted and delicate. With the number of children in need of temporary homes on the rise, the number of available homes declining, and the funding and support as a whole falling incredibly short of the mark, you can choose any aspect to focus on and help to make improvements. The team member who submitted this organization hopes to work with Foster Hope to schedule an event for a group of a children “to have fun and feel good about themselves the way they should.”
Reno Hope Bus (Reno, NV): The Reno Hope Bus is a converted bus that serves people affected by homelessness in the Reno area, providing coats, personal hygiene products, and internet-connected laptops to create a resume or seek employment. The owner also hopes to add showers soon. Submitted by a team member in Reno who was herself homeless for a short while last year prior to joining our company, we could not be more thrilled to support this organization that puts help directly into the hands of those who need it.
Lighthouse Charities (North Las Vegas, NV): Lighthouse Charities is a non-profit organization founded to assist families and individuals who are transitioning out of Welfare, at-risk individuals and low-income families, and recent legal immigrants in becoming self-reliant. With programs designed to help refugees learn the skills to become assets to the community, they are a shining light in our local community.
