Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY Charity Regist er OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE. NCMEC CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT 48 Details: January 9, Tournament Players Club Las Vegas; missingkids.com CHEFS FOR KIDS 5K RUN/FUN WALK Event: To support its efforts to eliminate malnutrition and hunger in children through education and provided meals, Chefs for Kids presents its annual 5K Run/Fun Walk. All participants will receive a long-sleeved CFK Race T-shirt, a goodie bag, and a pancake breakfast. Details: January 18, Wayne Bunker Family Park; chefsforkids.org BLACK & WHITE BALL Event: The Nevada Ballet Theatre presents its 30th annual Black & White Ball and honors its 2014 Woman of the Year, Florence Henderson (LEFT), on her 80th birthday. Guests will mingle with local celebrities, humanitarians, motivational speakers, and arts supporters at this Cartier-sponsored event. Details: January 25, Aria Resort & Casino; nevadaballet.com LAPS FOR CHARITY Event: Fulfill your need for speed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway by driving your dream car or motorcycle at 75 mph while helping a great cause. All proceeds benefit Speedway Children's Charities, which has been funding children's organizations in Southern Nevada since 1982. Details: January 26, Las Vegas Motor Speedway; lasvegas. speedwaycharities.org THE COLOR RUN Event: Founded in 2012 to promote health and happiness, the Color Run welcomes runners and walkers for the "happiest 5K on the planet." The money raised will go to more than 80 local and national charities. Details: February 22, South Las Vegas Boulevard; thecolorrun.com PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONA SHIELD PAYNE (DRINKS); ANDY KROPA/GETTY IMAGES (O'HURLEY); JASON MERRITT/GETTY IMAGES (HENDERSON); ASHLEY PON/GETTY IMAGES (COLOR RUN) continued from page 46 in his own business venture, and they've been collaborating on projects ever since. It was also at Southern Wine & Spirits that Haughinberry met Larry Ruvo, who inspired him to go into business for himself. Ruvo's public-minded philosophy matched Haughinberry's own and contributes to the spirit of Back Bar USA. Bernal worked full-time to put herself through TOP: Bernal and college, which made her sensitive to the hardHaughinberry at the 2013 Back Bar ships of students struggling to get by—and deeply holiday party with grateful to everyone who helped her get to where the UNLV Star of Nevada marching she is today. "Las Vegas has given me everything band. ABOVE: I have," she says. "We just want to keep making it A Jura Patron bartender at a 2013 a better community and paying it forward." MENUS event. Back Bar USA is currently facilitating beverage sponsorship for a fundraiser for MENUS (Mentoring and Educating Nevada's Upcoming Students), a program of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation. "When we learned all their fundraising goes to scholarships in the state of Nevada, we couldn't pass it up," says Haughinberry. As UNLV grads, he and Bernal are devoted to helping the school blossom. In November the company sponsored the UNLV Foundation dinner, which honors those who have donated more than $1 million to the university. The duo are bringing events to campus rather than to other venues so that prospective students and their families can see all that the university has to offer. One of Haughinberry's favorite events to work on, though, is Aid for AIDS of Nevada's Black & White Party. "I am a past board member of AFAN, and this one is a little selfish," he says. "It may be the best party this town throws, and we don't want to miss out on it!" Back Bar USA is also continuing to look for new opportunities to get involved in local causes, including The Center, which supports Nevada's gay and lesbian community. Haughinberry and Bernal are excited by the possibilities. "We're not just giving alcohol and looking away," says Haughinberry. "We're very hands-on. We are, after all, representing the organization.… We own every angle of our events." While Vegas can seem like a city of transients, Haughinberry and Bernal say they feel it's as warm and close-knit as a family—and companies like Back Bar USA are contributing to that homey atmosphere. Says Haughinberry, "You really need to focus on what you believe in and what you feel makes an impact to your community, your business, and your heart." V Event: For the 15th year in a row, celebrities (including host John O'Hurley, pictured) play a fun and challenging 18 holes of golf to raise funds for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in this event sponsored by Canon. VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 046-048_V_SP_SofG_Winter14.indd 48 1/10/14 11:03 AM