LAS VEGAS – Project 150 is embarking on its next decade of serving homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged local high school students by adapting to meet the needs of the day.
From forming in 2011 to help 150 local high school students to providing much-needed services for more than 6,000 such students in 75 local high schools today, the homegrown nonprofit works to reduce the high school dropout rate and give students the opportunity to engage in higher education – be it college or trade school.
As outlined in its newly released 2021 Impact Report, Project 150 adapted its services during the pandemic to continue meeting its mission. Highlights include:
· Food Distribution Program – The program established a curbside, contactless food pick-up program in March 2020 at Project 150’s facility. More than 17,400 family meal bags were distributed to high school students and their families last year. A total of 208,872 meals, valued at $586,105, were provided to those needing assistance. Last spring, Project 150 began distributing frozen food from its Betty’s Boutique, thanks to a new commercial walk-in freezer.
· Betty’s Boutique – Project 150’s on-site boutique gives students in need the opportunity to shop for free for new and like-new clothing, school supplies and backpacks during its Back-to-School shopping event. In 2021, more than 1,700 students utilized Betty’s Boutique. More than $10,000 in school supplies and more than $75,000 in hygiene items were distributed to high school students.
· Scholarships – This program awards students who are moving on to higher education with funding for college or trade school. In 2021, 48 local students received Project 150 scholarships totaling more than $125,000 at its annual awards luncheon. Thirty-six of the 48 students were first-generation college students.
“During this time of uncertainty, and with Nevada’s high rankings for homeless youth and students who don’t graduate from high school, our impact contributes to the larger movement of eradicating homelessness and food insecurity and making higher education possible for those students who want to pursue it,” said Kelli Kristo, Project 150 executive director.
To read Project 150’s complete 2021 Impact Report, click here.
About Project 150
Project 150 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, founded in December 2011 by local businessmen Don Purdue and Patrick Spargur. The two had heard about 150 homeless high school students at Rancho High School in Las Vegas who were in need of support over the Christmas break. Since that time, Project 150 has expanded and now serves more than 6,000 registered and non-registered homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in more than 75 schools throughout Nevada. Project 150 provides these students with food, clothing, school supplies, sports equipment, shoes, college and workforce readiness and other needs so they have what they need to continue school and be successful in life. Visit Project 150 at www.project150.org.
