Brian Sandoval and Renown Children’s Hospital Donate $6,000
to Pack Provisions and Ronald McDonald House
RENO, NV (October 30, 2023) — PBS Reno announced today that two local nonprofits – Pack Provisions and Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada (RMHCNN) – have received a collective $6,000 thanks to the generosity of Renown Health and two 2023 PBS Reno Spotlight Award winners: University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval and Renown Children’s Hospital.
“PBS Reno is proud to support community organizations like these through our Spotlight Gala and its honorees,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President and CEO.
Sandoval earned the 2023 PBS Reno Spotlight award for Extraordinary Philanthropist and Renown Health presented him with $5,000 to be used for the nonprofit of his choosing. Sandoval selected Pack Provisions. Pack Provisions is the University of Nevada, Reno's on-campus food pantry, located on the third floor of the Joe Crowley Student Union. It offers free access to food and hygiene supplies for all members of the Wolf Pack, including students, staff, and faculty, ensuring their academic journey is not hindered by financial hardship.
“I felt it was altogether fitting to use the gift that was given to me for PBS Reno’s Spotlight Awards in a manner that speaks to how PBS Reno has always provided community-minded generosity,” said Sandoval. “I paid PBS Reno’s generosity forward by using their gift to me as a $5,000 donation to Pack Provisions, our University’s campus food pantry that has for several years provided our students with food insecurity a needed caring and nutritional resource. I remain extremely honored and thankful to be recognized by PBS Reno. It is my sincere hope that all students, from all walks of life on our campus, can continue to benefit from student-centered programs such as our Pack Provisions.”
"We are honored and grateful to be receiving this wonderful donation for Pack Provisions,” said Hanin Abboud Rodriguez, Student Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Student Engagement at University of Nevada, Reno. “Last academic year ASUN Pack Provisions had close to 9,000 visits, and since the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, nearly 2,000 students have turned to the University Food Pantry to help address food insecurity. With this donation, we will continue serving our students and work toward eliminating barriers and challenges to achieve academic success.”
Renown Children’s Hospital earned the 2023 PBS Reno Spotlight award for Extraordinary Local Business and was presented with $1,000 from Renown Health for the nonprofit of its choosing. Renown Children’s Hospital selected Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevadasupports families who have a child receiving treatment at an area hospital. Since 1987, RMHCNN has created and supported programs that directly improve their health, education and well-being, and creates an environment of comfort and hope that allows families respite during their child’s health challenges.
“As the area’s only dedicated pediatric hospital and emergency room, Renown Children’s serves a large population within a 100,000 square mile radius,” said Dr. Kris Deeter, Physician-in-Chief of Renown Children’s Hospital and Chair of Pediatrics for the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “Ronald McDonald House makes it possible for families from far-reaching places to stay close while their children receive care. Loved ones are an essential part of everyone’s care journey, but that connection is especially important for Renown’s littlest patients. We are proud to support Ronald McDonald House and the important work they do for families in our region.”
“This generous donation from PBS Reno on behalf of Renown Children’s Hospital will be put to good use,” said Rikki Powers, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada. “Between the four programs RMHCNN operates, the funds will be used to feed and house families, provide places of respite to all caregivers of in-patient pediatric patients, provide travel funds for families seeking the best medical care for their child; overall, keeping families close. It is because of generous community support that allows RMHCNN to provide the gap services the programs do. We could not do it without our community partners. Thank you!”
About PBS Reno
As of February 2023, PBS Reno Channel 5.1 is watched weekly by more than 98,377 people in approximately 67,400 households in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California, with viewership on multicast channels Reno Create 5.2 and PBS KIDS Reno 5.3. PBS Reno channels are also available on cable, satellite services, and via livestream on YouTube TV. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube Channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom Workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since 1983.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503