Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS), part of the nation’s leading evidence-based stay-in-school organization serving 110 schools in the Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe County school districts, received a $500,000 donation for the 2023-2024 school year from Nevada Gold Mines (NGM), a joint venture mining complex operated by Barrick. This donation from NGM supports approximately 19,000 students at 16 elementary, middle, and high schools through CIS programming.
This donation brings Nevada Gold Mines’ total contribution to CIS of Nevada students to more than $4.3 million over the past 14 years.
This marks the second year NGM leaders increased their funding to support CIS statewide, ensuring more students have the support they need to succeed in and outside of school. The donation covers the cost of tutoring, basic needs such as food and clothing, and free tele-counseling for vulnerable students across Clark, Elko, Humboldt, and Washoe county school districts in Nevada. This annual contribution from NGM continues to maintain and expand CIS’ Integrated Student Supports (ISS) program into the schools the organization serves with custom designed wraparound services provided by CIS community and nonprofit partners. CIS’ evidence-based model is founded on the premise that removing roadblocks to learning helps students to reach their potential and stay in school.
“We remain incredibly grateful to Nevada Gold Mines for its ongoing investment in CIS and the students we serve throughout the state. By providing funding for our Integrated Student Supports, the core of our organization’s programs and services, NGM is transforming thousands of students’ lives throughout our Silver State,” said Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO and State Director, Communities In Schools of Nevada. “This partnership we have with Nevada Gold Mines enables us to continue providing students with what they need to succeed, resulting in more graduates, a more robust workforce, a more prosperous economy and thriving communities.”
Here are the additional ways NGM’s donation is supporting CIS of Nevada:
• Providing funding to CIS of Northeastern Nevada’s telehealth program. In 2022-2023, 85% of participating students in Elko and Humboldt Counties improved their ability to manage emotions, and 80% increased their ability to handle and cope with difficult situations. This program is a joint venture between CIS of Northeastern Nevada and UNLV’s The PRACTICE: A Community Mental Health Clinic. Approximately 55 students utilize this program annually.
• This funding will also provide wraparound services to 10,400 students in Clark County, 3,661 students in Elko County, 3,129 students in Humboldt County, and 1,842 students in Washoe County for a total of 19,032 students throughout Nevada. CIS of Nevada’s Site Coordinators work with individual students and families to identify solutions to the myriad of barriers that often prevent students from low socioeconomic backgrounds from making academic success a priority.
• NGM’s gift also includes a $1,000 sponsorship to CIS of Northeastern Nevada’s Nite at The Races in August, which raised more than $23,000 last year.
“We are proud to be longtime partners with Communities In Schools of Nevada in supporting the state’s most vulnerable youth. Their efforts are both seen and felt, resulting in increased graduation rates for Nevada students. NGM is committed to investing in education and supporting students to meet their full potential – and this partnership aligns with that commitment,” said Alissa Wood, Head of Community Engagement and Development for Barrick North America.
Of note is CIS of Nevada’s high school graduation rate of 95 percent for case-managed high school seniors and eligible juniors in Nevada for the 2022-2023 school year. This represents a one percent increase from the CIS graduation rate for the previous school year.
Since 2009, Barrick (now Nevada Gold Mines, operated by Barrick) has demonstrated its commitment to bettering Nevada’s quality of education and, more importantly, the lives of the state’s students most at-risk of dropping out. Over the past 14 years, NGM has donated more than $4.3 million to Communities In Schools of Nevada. This continued support has enabled CIS of Nevada to build capacity throughout the state and grow to serve over 100,000 of Nevada’s highest-needs students. As we continue to work toward creating a more equitable educational landscape for Nevada’s most vulnerable students, long-time, committed supports like Nevada Gold Mines enable CIS of Nevada leaders to develop new programming to make a lasting impact on our community.
