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When we think of 2020, most of our poignant memories will be less than positive ones. And yet, there were some amazing bright spots. For one middle school teacher in Las Vegas, one of those bright spots was purchasing his first home with his wife with some help from Nevada Housing Division's Home Is Possible^TM For Teachers Program (HIP For Teachers), making him the 1,000th Nevada teacher to use the program.

Sandy Raffealli learned a lot from her father, Bill Pearce. He taught her about the automotive business, certainly; but just as importantly, he taught her about the importance of giving back to the community.

“My parents both came from working-class families and lived through the Depression,” she says. “Their early contributions were of their time. Later, as the dealership became successful, they were able to support groups like the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club in additional ways.”

Most people know the Elf on the Shelf to be a holiday tradition, but Reno nonprofit, Urban Roots, has applied its own spin to the custom with The Elf Herself.

While Dr. Barry Frank has been retired from his pediatric practice for six years, he is still caring for the community.

The doctor has donated nearly $60,000 to Northern Nevada HOPES over the last several years, supporting the organization’s comprehensive medical, behavioral and wellness support service. His recent $40,000 donation has helped fund a new Gender and Sexual Health Care Clinic at the community health center.

The Nevada Gay Men’s Chorus (NGMC) holiday concert has been a Northern Nevada staple for 10 years, selling out the 400-seat venue for most of them. While COVID has created a challenge in that audiences can’t attend the concert live this year, it has also created an opportunity for even more people to enjoy this annual tradition since they won’t be limited by the size of a building.

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ravage the food and beverage industry, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada has redoubled its efforts to purchase food from local farmers, ranchers and food distributors hardest hit by the pandemic for its St. Vincent’s Food Pantry. 

In July, Catholic Charities received a CARES Act Grant to purchase locally grown food to supplement and expand its food distribution programs in the Reno/Sparks area and the rural, frontier and tribal communities as well. 

The Reno-Tahoe community already had enough to worry about this holiday season: A global pandemic; parents working from home; kids distance learning in the next room. And then families were asked to evacuate what should have been their safe havens due to the Pinehaven fire, leaving dozens of families wondering if they would have a home to come back to for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

In this installment of "4 Fast Fun Facts", we aim a spotlight on Just the Positive contributor Mariah Erickson. We asked this first-grade teacher at Double Diamond Elementary school about the role of positivity in her life. See our conversation below. 

1. What’s your day job, and what’s your favorite part of doing what you do?

I am a first grade teacher. My favorite part of my job is the enthusiasm I see in kids eager to learn. I love how excited kids are to be at school. Keeping them engaged all day in learning is my favorite thing!

What does a conductor do when music starts to fade from the scene during a pandemic? For conductor and owner of GPG Music, Steve Martin, DMA, (ASCAP), it meant a major pivot from selling scholastic sheet music to creating  Our Virtual Ensemble (OVE), curriculum and a platform for performing arts educators to continue teaching and inspiring their students through adjusted learning environments. 

We all know people in Northern Nevada who are spending their days saving lives, going out of their way to protect their families and contributing to the safety of our community. A local medical spa, M Spa, wants to turn the tables by helping five deserving locals feel pampered. And they need your help.