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says. "Most people don't realize it happens at so many different levels, including income levels and various professions." She was three months pregnant with her son and serving on the board of The Shade Tree when the boy's father took his own life. "I relied so much on my two dogs to get me through my pregnancy," Alonso says of her other "babies," Tahoe and Philly. "One day, I asked the executive director of The Shade Tree, 'What do we do when a woman shows up w it h pet s?'" T he a nswer: T hey were t u r ned away. "It hit me hard," A lonso says. "I wouldn't have healed the way I did if I hadn't had these two great rescue dogs who were so happy to see me each time I walked into the house. I said, 'How can we expect women to go into a shelter without the support a pet brings? We need to change that.'" With no full-service kennel on the grounds of a domestic-violence shelter to serve as a model, Alonso set to work designing Noah's Animal House in 2006. Once she got started, support began pouring in from the Las Vegas community. Funding has come completely from private donations, including a g ift of $1 million. "Women and children can take their pets and sit in a normal living-room environment to spend quality cuddle time," she explains. Noah's cares for the pets until the women ca n live independent ly aga in; ver y few pet s a re ever lef t behind. Alonso's dream is to open additional Noah's centers at other domestic-violence shelters. "I don't want to hear any more stories about women who had to leave their beloved pet behind, only to hear, 'If you leave, I'll kill the dog.' That needs to be a thing of the past." And she isn't alone in her quest. "I think the true mark of success of Noah's is that several women who were clients are now volunteers," she says. "They have new homes now—for both them and their pets—and they want to give back." The seventh annual five-kilometer Walk of Hope, a fundraiser for The Shade Tree and Noah's Animal House, takes place April 26 at Craig Ranch Regional Park. All are welcome, pets included. noahsanimalhouse.org; theshadetree.org V STRIP ON THE STRIP Event: Debuting this year, Strip on the Strip is a five-kilometer run and one-mile walk to raise funds and collect clothing for U.S. Vets–Las Vegas. Participants can donate a piece of clothing at each station throughout the course or all at once in the bags provided before the start of the race. Details: March 1, Sport Center of Las Vegas; striponthestrip.com DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER GALA Event: The Las Vegas Philharmonic, along with presenting sponsor Graff Diamonds, will honor Siegfried & Roy ( PICTURED) at the 15th annual Diamonds Are Forever Gala, featuring cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and special performances by members of the orchestra. Details: March 1, Aria Resort & Casino; lvphil.org PAINT THE TOWN RED GALA Event: The Paint the Town Red Gala is the largest annual fundraiser benefiting the community-based programs of the Junior League of Las Vegas. This year the JLLV will honor Nancy Gasho-Fromm with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Jim Rogers with the Florence Lee Jones Humanitarian Award. Details: March 8, Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa; jllv.org KEEP MEMORY ALIVE'S POWER OF LOVE GALA Event: Celebrity chefs, master sommeliers, and A-list headliners will converge at the sixth annual Power of Love Gala, a fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Previous chefs have included Thomas Keller, Emeril Lagasse, and Wolfgang Puck, and the headliners have included Michael Bublé, CeeLo Green, Enrique Iglesias, and Lenny Kravitz. This year's event honors Gloria and Emilio Estefan ( PICTURED). Details: April 26, MGM Grand Garden Arena; keepmemoryalive.org BEST IN SHOW Event: The Animal Foundation's 11th annual fundraiser features 50 spunky shelter dogs competing for the title of "best in show." The event starts with a VIP brunch and silent auction, and all the dogs are available for adoption after the show. Details: April 27, Orleans Arena; animalfoundation.com TOP: Staci and Noah greet a new client. ABOVE: Pets are often abused along with their owners; now they can find shelter in facilities side by side. continued from page 68 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALF JUERGENS/GETTY IMAGES (SIEGFRIED); VALERIE MACON/GETTY IMAGES FOR NCLR (ESTEFAN) Charity Regist er OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE. " I wouldn't have healed the way I did without these two great dogs." —STACI COLUMBO ALONSO 70 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY 068-070_V_SP_SofG_Spring14.indd 70 2/10/14 5:13 PM