Project MANA - A Hunger Relief Agency

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza:   At the recent Parasol Community Awards on Dec. 1, the Service Integration Team received the Chairman's award for Excellence in Service and Resource Collaboration. This program combines the resources of four agencies to address the needs of our community. To accomplish this we had to be willing to change the way we think and do business. Instead of working alone as individual agencies competing for clients and funding we are working together to develop smarter and sustainable strategies for helping families in need. The core concept of this program is "to empower clients by identifying their strengths and the resources they need to move forward and be productive, contributing members of our community."

We would like to thank Bill Horn, past chair of the PCC, for his leadership and support in recognizing the value of this program. We also want to take this opportunity to thank the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, the Nevada Women's Fund, The noon Rotary Club, Robert Herrera, Incline Village Book Club, Dr. John and Valia Hylin, Richard Goodman, and the United Way of Northern Nevada for having the vision and foresight to provide financial support.

We also want to recognize and thank the family advocates who are responsible for the success of the program, Viana Zuchet, Patty Ahsoak, Molly Messerly, and Irma LeBard. Without their support many families in need would not receive services.