Las Vegas law firm starts St. Jude giving challenge; Giving Machines, veterans concert and Henderson WinterFest set

What happened

The Las Vegas Sun on Nov. 6 published a set of community briefs covering charitable drives and public events around the valley this month and next. They include a fundraising challenge aimed at local lawyers, the Giving Machines, a city veterans concert, a youth theater production and Henderson's WinterFest. More community events are collected in our community section.

Charity drives open for the season

Law firm challenge for St. Jude

Las Vegas-based Mead Law Group announced a campaign called Make a Case for Giving on Thursday, the Sun reported. The firm started it with a $15,000 gift. It is asking attorneys and law firms to match that amount or give any amount to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Donations are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 30 through fundraising.stjude.org/letsmakeacase. The firm is also encouraging participants to share their involvement online and to challenge another firm to join. Managing partner Leon Mead said the firm is asking colleagues "to bring that same commitment to helping children and families facing serious illness," according to the Sun. St. Jude, based in Memphis, Tenn., researches and treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Giving Machines at two shopping centers

Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys is set to make the season's first donation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Festival Plaza Drive at Downtown Summerlin, across from Macy's Courtyard, according to the Sun. The short press event will also include Elder Tom Thomas of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, local nonprofit representatives and emcee Mercedes Martinez of MIX 94.1. A second machine opens the same day at The District at Green Valley Ranch.

The machines work like vending machines. Users swipe a credit or debit card to buy items for charities. The Downtown Summerlin machine stays through Jan. 3, 2027. Organizers said local items cost $5 to $125 and include meals, clothing, diapers, formula and car seats. Global options include goats, clubfoot braces and school water filters.

The Downtown Summerlin machine benefits Catholic Charities, Foster Kinship, Future Smiles, Helping Hands of Vegas Valley and Three Square. The District machine supports Baby's Bounty, Eye Care 4 Kids, The Just One Project, The Salvation Army and Tyler Robinson Foundation. African Hope for Girls, Lifting Hands International and Clubfoot Solutions benefit at both sites.

The church sponsors the #LightTheWorld Giving Machine. Organizers said it has raised more than $70 million for charities since 2017. Downtown Summerlin first hosted it in 2019, and organizers said Southern Nevada donors have since given nearly $4 million and bought almost 200,000 items.

Veterans concert at the Civic Center

The city of Las Vegas will hold a free Veterans Appreciation Concert at noon Thursday on the Las Vegas Civic Center outdoor plaza, 525 S. Main St., the Sun reported. The Swing It! Girls, a vintage-inspired vocal trio, will sing swing, jazz and early pop songs. T.A.P.P.S., a group of trumpeters who play Taps at military funerals at no cost to families, will perform Taps live.

Food Truck Thursday and a farmers market will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same site, with a featured veteran-owned food truck. Nonprofits and veteran-serving groups will share resources with veterans and their families. Parking is across the street at the 500 S. Main St. garage, and the city will offer free two-hour validations at its plaza tent while supplies last.

Theater and holiday events

Youth theater stages Austen

Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, a city of Las Vegas program, is presenting "Sense & Sensibility" at 6 p.m. Thursday through Nov. 14 at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 Brush St. There is also a 1 p.m. show on Nov. 14. Reserved seats cost $10 each online, and the arts center sells tickets starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Erica Griffin directs the adaptation by playwright Kate Hamill, which runs roughly 70 minutes. The ensemble includes 38 students ages 10 to 18. The city set no age limit but said some younger viewers may find the 19th-century language hard to follow.

Henderson WinterFest

Henderson will light its holiday tree and hold a drone show from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Water Street Plaza, 240 S. Water St., opening the free WinterFest. The Swingles and local chorus groups will perform, and food vendors will be there. The Electric Light Parade follows from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4 along Water Street.

The city will close Water Street for the event. Parking will be limited at the Water Street and Henderson City Hall garages, and the city urged people to arrive early.

What to watch next

• Make a Case for Giving donations to St. Jude close at 5 p.m. Nov. 30.
• Rainbow Company's run of "Sense & Sensibility" ends Nov. 14, including a 1 p.m. show that day.
• Henderson's tree lighting is Dec. 3 and the Electric Light Parade is Dec. 4 on Water Street.
• The Downtown Summerlin Giving Machine remains through Jan. 3, 2027.