LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) announced $5.7 million in donations on Friday, Nov. 1, during its 2024 Honorarium event.
The generous gifts from the Gavin J. Goorjian estate and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust support the ongoing construction and operation of The Center's newest facility — unveiled as the Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center — which will offer comprehensive health services for the LGBTQIA+ community and others in need of inclusive healthcare.
More than 800 attendees gathered at the Aria Resort and Casino Friday evening to celebrate “Advancing Healthcare for All” as The Center CEO John Waldron announced a $3.5 million gift from the estate of Goorjian, a former community leader and Center board member who passed away in 2022. Gavin’s husband, Jason, was on hand for the event and announcement that the new center would be named in honor of Goorjian.
"The generosity on display here tonight is overwhelming and humbling," Waldron said. "The legacies of both the Goorjian and Helmsley families will live on through The Center and the new clinic, ensuring that all members of our community have access to compassionate and inclusive healthcare."
Following the announcement of Goorjian's posthumous gift, Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, announced that Helmsley was donating $2.2 million toward the health center's expansion. The additional funds will accelerate efforts to offer primary and behavioral health services that address not just physical health but also the emotional and mental well-being of patients.
“The Helmsley Charitable Trust is dedicated to providing access to top-notch healthcare to all, and we’re so excited to help The Center expand its services to the LGBTQIA+ community,” Panzirer said.
The Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center, located at 921 S. Las Vegas Blvd., now serves as a cornerstone of The Center's mission to provide inclusive healthcare. Staffed with a doctor and two nurse practitioners, the health center offers primary care, gender-affirming care, and HIV treatment. Appointments are recommended, but walk-in patients are welcome, and most insurance plans are accepted. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
About The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada
For more than 30 years, The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada has been providing a safe and welcoming place where everyone can receive the information, support, and services needed to thrive. Located at 401 S. Maryland Parkway, The Center's threefold focus is to provide health services, advocacy, and community empowerment.
About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $750 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit helmsleytrust.org and click here for a digital press kit. https://helmsleytrust.box.com/s/6quqybiscy9ihb00ab0e6ytk8j4uup0p.
