Nevada
Second annual Silver & Black Gala raises $3 million for youth mental health services in Nevada
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The Raiders Foundation proudly hosted the second annual Silver & Black Gala on May 17 at Allegiant Stadium, raising an impressive $3 million to benefit youth mental health initiatives across Nevada. Building on the success of its inaugural year and seeing considerable growth, the Gala once again spotlighted the Foundation’s commitment to uplifting communities through access, awareness, and action.
Presented by Intermountain Health, the evening gathered nearly 1,000 attendees, including local business leaders, public officials, and a contingent of Raiders, including alumni, current players, and front office staff for a powerful night of giving. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the Gala will directly fund mental health services, programs, and resources for youth in Southern Nevada.
The evening began with an impassioned speech from Raiders Owner Mark Davis, who lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch in honor of Elaine Wynn, followed by a surprise $1 million donation from the Raiders Foundation to four Nevada-based organizations delivering critical mental health support to young people: Boys Town Nevada, Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada, Solutions for Change, and Campus for Hope.
“Mental health is a critical pillar of well-being, especially for our youth,” said Sandra Douglass Morgan, President of the Las Vegas Raiders. “The Raiders are proud to leverage the power of this organization and the generosity of our community to help remove the stigma and expand access to essential resources. The Silver & Black Gala represents more than a night of giving — it’s a statement of our long-term commitment to the health and future of Nevada’s youth.”
“The overwhelming support we received at this year’s Gala reflects how deeply our community cares about the mental health of our young people,” said Kari Uyehara, Executive Director of the Raiders Foundation. “It’s an honor to channel that generosity directly into programs making an immediate and lasting impact. We’re especially proud to recognize and support organizations doing the hard work on the ground every day to lift up Nevada’s youth.”
Each of the four nonprofit recipients expressed deep gratitude for the unexpected investment:
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Raiders Foundation for recognizing the importance of early mental health intervention,” said Executive Director of Boys Town Nevada John Etzell. “This support enables us to expand vital programs that help young people develop resilience, heal from trauma, and build brighter futures.”
“This gift is truly transformational for the young clients we serve,” said Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada Executive Director Patrick Bozarth. “Mental health care should never be a luxury, and with the Raiders Foundation’s investment, we can reach more youth with the timely, compassionate support they deserve.”
“The Raiders Foundation’s leadership in mental health advocacy is inspiring,” said Danisha Mingo, Founder and Executive Director of Solutions for Change. “This funding allows us to continue our mission of empowering youth through education, therapeutic care, and community engagement — all essential tools in breaking the cycle of trauma and adversity.”
“This generous support from the Raiders Foundation strengthens our ability to meet youth where they are — with empathy, safety, and resources,” said Campus for Hope CEO Kim Jeffries. “Together, we’re building a healthier Nevada where no young person feels invisible or alone.”
The evening also featured the presentation of the “Commitment to Excellence Award” to Gary and Debbie Ackerman from Gaudin Ford and Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons in recognition of their outstanding philanthropic and community leadership.
Among the night’s highlights:
- A Ford Shelby F-250, donated by Gaudin Motor Company, was auctioned for $250,000.
- A private dinner with Mark Davis, Tom Brady, and Charles Woodson sold for $300,000.
- Raiders: The Opus, Silver Torch Edition, a 936-page book infused with the first 60 years of the Silver and Black, sold for $1M during the live auction.
- Stevie Wonder thrilled the audience with an unforgettable 1.5-hour performance.
Notable guests included Owner Mark Davis, President Sandra Douglass Morgan, Head Coach Pete Carroll, and General Manager John Spytek, along with Raiders Alumni Charles Woodson, Jim Plunkett, Eric Allen, and Marcus Allen. More than 40 current Raiders players attended, including Maxx Crosby, Geno Smith, Daniel Carlson, and Jackson Powers-Johnson.
For more information about the Raiders Foundation and future events, visit raiders.com/foundation.
Nevada
Las Vegas Rotary Club Supports Pickleball Fundraiser to Eradicate Polio

The non-competitive, social event is chaired by Janice Lencke, president of the Las Vegas Rotary Club, on behalf of Rotary District 5300, which serves Southern Nevada and parts of California. The event invites players of all experience levels to come together for an afternoon of pickleball, fellowship and charitable giving, with proceeds benefiting Rotary’s polio eradication efforts.
“The Rotary Clubs of Southern Nevada, together with District 5300, are uniting to host this event to raise awareness and move one step closer to writing the final chapter in polio’s story—an ending marked by eradication,” said Janice Lencke. “Let’s finish what we started and #EndPolio for good.”
Rotary International is a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which was launched in 1988. Since that time, Rotary’s advocacy, fundraising and volunteer efforts have helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than 99.9 percent, bringing the world closer than ever to eliminating the disease entirely. Polio eradication remains Rotary’s primary humanitarian focus and one of its most sustained global commitments.
General admission tickets include pickleball court access, lunch and sodas, one alcoholic drink ticket, a commemorative photo, one raffle ticket and free parking. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and individuals who want to support the cause.
District 5300 is promoting the event throughout Southern Nevada, with additional outreach across California to encourage regional participation in similar events.
ABOUT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND THE LAS VEGAS ROTARY CLUB
Rotary International is a worldwide fellowship and service organization with 1.2 million members in 200 countries, with 32,000 clubs. Established in 1923 as part of Rotary International, the Las Vegas Rotary Club is the first and largest Rotary Club in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Rotary Club meets for lunch and fellowship every Thursday at Lawry’s The Prime Rib. To learn more about the Club and service projects, visit https://lasvegasrotary.com.
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Nevada
Travel Nevada Presents The Neon in Nature Series, Featuring Artwork by DARIUSTWIN, at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, January 15 – April 6, 2026
Nevada Division of Tourism
Unique exhibition marks DARIUSTWIN’s first museum show in the U.S.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / January 8, 2026 / Travel Nevada is proud to present The Neon in Nature Series, which features artwork by light painting photographer and animator Darren Pearson (better known as DARIUSTWIN)at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, beginning January 15, 2026. The exhibition is DARIUSTWIN’s first U.S. museum show. To celebrate the exhibition opening, Travel Nevada will pay admission fees for the first 200 guests to arrive directly at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Created exclusively in Nevada, The Neon in Nature Series captures just some of the stunning landscapes and striking night skies that you’ll find in Nevada when you get a little out there – all juxtaposed with DARIUSTWIN’s signature light paintings infused with and inspired by Nevada character (and characters). The exhibition will inspire museum guests to visit the Nevada ghost towns, state parks, historical landmarks, and more that take center stage in this unique, vibrant, and whimsical exhibition.
“Nevada’s diverse surroundings and dark night skies provided an ideal backdrop to compose this series,” said DARIUSTWIN. “I’m grateful to the Travel Nevada team for commissioning the work and to the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, for housing my very first museum exhibition in the country. I’m hopeful that it will encourage museum guests to travel throughout Nevada, which I found was so rich in history and ripe with adventure opportunities.”
“When the Travel Nevada team first saw DARIUSTWIN’s work, we immediately knew that a partnership with him would inspire people to get a little out there in the state. The Neon in Nature Series is a creative take on what makes Nevada special,” said Rafael Villanueva, chief executive officer of Travel Nevada. “Additionally, we’re thrilled that this exhibition will be housed in the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. We share a mission with the museum to enhance the quality of life for Nevada’s visitors and residents, and what better place to host The Neon in Nature series than a city whose history is intertwined with neon?”
The Neon in Nature Series, Presented by Travel Nevada will be on view at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas through April 6, 2026.
“The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is delighted to host this art- and Nevada-focused installation by DARIUSTWIN,” said Hollis J. Gillespie, director of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. “The Neon in Nature Series exemplifies our mission of educating the public about the history and natural history of the state, and it does so in an electrifying way. We look forward to sharing it with our visitors.”
EDITORS: Select high-resolution images from The Neon in Nature Series, Presented by Travel Nevada are available here. Photo credit for all images: “Photo courtesy of Travel Nevada/DARIUSTWIN. ©️ 2024 DARIUSTWIN.”
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About Travel Nevada
The heart of Nevada shines through Travel Nevada, an organization focused on sharing the experiences, landmarks and living legends that make the Silver State a one-of-a-kind destination. Through community collaborations and strategic partnerships, we aim to connect with both locals and visitors alike, showcasing the sometimes-surprising, always-exciting treasures that keep people coming to Nevada. It’s theirs to explore-and ours to safekeep, from preserving our wild-at-heart way of life to our wide-open spaces. For more information, visit TravelNevada.com.
About the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
Founded in 1982, the mission of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, serves to educate a diverse public about the history and natural history of Nevada. The museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and disseminates material that contributes to an understanding and appreciation of the state. For more information, visit https://www.lasvegasnvmuseum.org/
About DARIUSTWIN
Darren Pearson, known as DARIUSTWIN, is a light painting photographer and animator whose glowing creations have illuminated landscapes around the world. Using long-exposure photography and custom crafted LED lights, Darren “paints” with light in real time, creating skeletal figures, dinosaurs, aliens, and fantastical characters that exist for only a moment before disappearing into the night. His work has been featured by National Geographic, Intel, Honda, and Apple, among others.
Based in Southern California, Darren has been creating light paintings for more than a decade, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, one exposure at a time. See more at dariustwin.com and follow @dariustwin.
Contact:
Tracie Barnthouse, Chief Communications Officer
tbarnthouse@travelnevada.com; 775-624-0618
SOURCE: Nevada Division of Tourism
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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Nevada
Nevada gets thrilling overtime win against Wyoming at home 70-60
RENO, Nev. (Nevada Athletics) – Nevada Women’s Basketball won its second straight game Wednesday night, getting a thrilling 70-60 overtime win against Wyoming at Lawlor Events Center.
Reigning Old Trapper Mountain West Freshman of the Week Skylar Durley led the Pack (6-9, 2-3 MW) in scoring with 18 points and led both teams in rebounds with a career high 14, recording her first double-double of her career.
Ahrray Young went 5-for-10 from the field for 11 points to go with eight boards.
Nevada’s resilience in the latter part of the fourth, which was punctuated by a key block from Young, forced the game into overtime.
The Pack’s shutdown defense held Wyoming (4-10, 1-4 MW) at bay in the final five, only allowing one point off of a free throw.
On the other end, the offense of Nevada went on a 6-0 run and shot 83.3 percent from the field.
Nevada outscored Wyoming 11-1 and held the Cowgirls without a field goal in OT.
The Pack opened regulation in perfect fashion, shooting a 7-for-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-2 from the line in the first five minutes of action.
Nevada had a 10-0 run that was capitalized by holding Wyoming to a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought.
Through the first quarter, Nevada shot 64.3 percent and remained perfect from both deep and free throws.
Nevada’s hot start simmered in the second, only getting six points and closing the quarter on a field goal drought of just under four minutes.
Meanwhile, Wyoming’s shooting improved from the first, closing the gap to two.
Despite the slower quarter, Nevada carried its lead into the second half, 45-41.
The third quarter was nearly even, Nevada only shooting slightly better and outscoring Wyoming, 15-14.
The game stayed close through the fourth with three ties and four lead changes, leading to extra time.
As a team, the Pack outrebounded the Cowgirls, 40-28, and had 24 bench points to their six.
Nevada will hit the road and look to even its conference record as it faces New Mexico Saturday at 12 p.m.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
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