LAS VEGAS (May 13, 2025) – Today, Linda Perez, CEO of The Shade Tree, a 24-hour accessible shelter and resource center designed to specifically meet the needs of those escaping domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness, their children and pets (through a partnership with Noah’s Animal House), announced the launch of the “Rise & Restore” fundraising campaign to complete repairs and reopen damaged spaces after a series of catastrophic water events severely damaged the main shelter facility, with impacts throughout the nonprofit’s campus.
What began as series of small leaks starting in December 2024, cascaded into devasting water events that resulted in an almost complete failure of the 25-year-old main shelter building’s plumbing infrastructure. Since December, emergency repairs and temporary fixes have kept the building operational and safe, with the staff and clients who reside there working together to adjust and make the best of challenging circumstances. While the repair work has started, the bulk of materials, labor and funding required to complete the restoration remain.
At today’s press conference, Karyn Steenkamp, vice president of design and construction at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and chairwoman of The Shade Tree board of trustees, announced that more than $480,000 in in-kind materials and labor from the construction and building industries have been donated to the project thus far.
“The Shade Tree has served the Southern Nevada community for more than three decades and today remains a vital resource for women and children who come to the shelter in the most dire of circumstances,” said Karyn Steenkamp, vice president of design and construction at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and chairwoman of The Shade Tree board of trustees. “In a testament to what the organization means to our community, when our friends in the construction and building sectors found out what was happening at this facility, they immediately stepped up with offers of help.”
According to Perez, the goal of the Rise & Restore campaign is to raise $5 million over the next 12 months to fully reopen the shelter building to include 256 beds in remodeled, more individualized sleeping areas upon completion of the work.
While The Shade Tree organization was founded more than 35 years ago, the main building located on the corner of Owens Avenue and Main Street was built as new construction and opened in the year 2000. For the last 25 years, the building has been in continuous use 24-hours per day, 365 days per year, housing thousands of women and children annually.
Since the initial water incident, The PENTA Building Group has served as the job superintendent, overseeing all aspects of the restoration and repair work while coordinating in-kind donations of materials and labor.
“The PENTA Building Group strongly believes in supporting the communities in which we operate, and The Shade Tree has been near and dear to the hearts of our employees for a very long time,” said Mike Kurowski, project executive, The PENTA Building Group. “The damage to the shelter building is significant and while we’ve made some progress and taken the necessary steps to keep the facility safe and functional, we have a long way to go. We encourage our friends in the Las Vegas community to join us and pitch in however you can.”
The Rise & Restore campaign offers several giving opportunities including individual donations of any amount plus naming rights starting at $100,000 for the donation center and ranging to $1 million for the main building. For more information and online donations, please visit the campaign web page at theshadetree.org/riseandrestore.
ABOUT THE SHADE TREE
The Shade Tree, a 35-year Southern Nevada nonprofit, is a 24-hour accessible emergency shelter for those escaping domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness, their children and pets. The Shade Tree partners with Noah’s Animal House, located on the organization’s campus, to provide pet services for its clients. The Shade Tree facility offers residential areas with sleeping rooms, a children’s activity center, meals, and other services. Additionally, it offers case management and programs to in-house and off-site clients including workforce readiness, health services, and housing assistance. The Shade Tree crisis hotline phone/text number is 1-855-385-0072. To learn more, follow The Shade Tree on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram or visit www.theshadetree.org.
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Contact: Lisa Robinson, 702-326-0334, lisa@twgpr.com
