The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation Joins Fellow Benefactors at First Annual INSPIRE Charity Event, Benefitting Inspiring Children Foundation; Event Launches the Sands Cares Accelerator Program

    LAS VEGAS, NV, June 04, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- -- The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation was among the inaugural attendees at the first annual INSPIRE gala and charity concert, presented by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The event launched LVS's newly formed "Sands Cares Accelerator Program," which provides fundraising and resources to assist in expansion of worthy causes. The event, held at the Palazzo Theatre in Las Vegas on Friday, May 19, 2017, raised funds for its inaugural program participant, The Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF).

Inspiring Children Foundation helps at-risk youth develop tools for success in all aspects of their lives, and seeks to achieve lasting results for its kids through positive thinking, social nurturing and can-do mindsets via placing them in leadership curriculums, apprenticeships and athletics programs in the Las Vegas metro area.

Representatives of The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Lufkin were treated to on-stage seating at the concert in recognition of Mr. Lufkin's prior-related charitable donation through CharityBuzz to the National Tennis Foundation, of which the ICF is a recognized charity partner; the USTA recently announced that it is funding the replication of ICF programming in 22 cities across the United States.

Another ICF partner, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Jewel, performed. Jewel, whose last name is Kilcher, has established a non-profit program "Never Broken," and related website, www.jewelneverbroken.com, which directly supports the ICF's work by bringing their life changing tools to the general public.

ICF has had great success in creating substantial partnerships. In addition to the National Tennis Foundation, Sands Cares and Jewel Never Broken, it is also the charity partner of the Necker Cup, a charity pro-am tennis tournament held on Necker Island, British Virgin Islands.

Pictured here: Jewel Kilcher with Cara Familet, Foundation Director of The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation.

Jewel's performance exhibited not only her singing and songwriting capabilities - but perhaps more importantly - her storytelling prowess. Over the course of the evening, the at-capacity audience listened to her relate stories of her own development, from being born in Alaska to achieving enduring stardom over two decades as a poetic and honest folk singer.

Pictured here: Jewel performing at the Palazzo Theater in Las Vegas, NV.

Guests enjoyed an acapella rendition of "Over the Rainbow," after which Jewel kicked off her shoes and sang crowd favorites such as "Hands," "Father's Daughter," "Who Will Save Your Soul," and "You Were Meant for Me."

"The entire evening was more of a spiritual event than a typical charity gala or concert. It was beyond meaningful to hear not one, but several of the ICF's kids, share their personal stories with us." said Sandra Familet, an Advisor to The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation.

Pictured here: Sandra Familet with Cara Familet, Foundation Director of The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation, on-stage just prior to the concert portion of the evening.

"We appreciate the way ICF has been able to form partnerships with other organizations to maximize its impact and reach. This methodology is at the very core of our collaborative approach with recipients of our support. Our original donation, made via Charitybuzz, supported the National Tennis Foundation, which in turn bolstered ICF efforts, helping them to effectuate such meaningful results in the lives of these children," said Chauncey Lufkin.

"The ICF's results with these kids is nothing short of profound. Over the course of the evening, I was honored to meet some of the kids who participate in the program, and each one demonstrated maturity far beyond that of most teenagers I have come to know," said Cara Familet, Foundation Director for The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation.

The evening ended with a heartfelt finale of Jewel, together with award-winning songwriter Siedah Garret, leading the kids in a high-energy performance of "Man in the Mirror," which Ms. Garret co-wrote with Michael Jackson.

In total, the gala brought in over $800,000 for the foundation through a silent and live auction, as well as donations.

About the Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation:
The Chauncey F. Lufkin III Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2006 dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals around the world. Our foundation's focus is on fighting poverty through better education and by finding faster cures for the diseases that affect loved ones. Our strategy is to comb the globe for private independent foundations effectively working on these issues, supporting them with financial injections that make a difference.

To date the Foundation has lent their support to numerous organizations including The Robin Hood Foundation, The Milken Institute, The Aspen Institute, The Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County, Quantum House of Palm Beach County, Apex for Youth, The Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, CharityBuzz and BizWorld. Mr. Lufkin has also established The Chauncey Lufkin Endowment for Academic Excellence at Southern Methodist University and is a major contributor to St. Lawrence University. www.cfl3.org

About The Marty Hennessey Inspiring Children Foundation:
The Foundation's goal is to provide the ultimate environment for a child to become their best in all areas of their life, including: academics, athletics, interpersonal skills, leadership, and character development. IFC hopes to arm youth with a variety of ways and tools to grow intellectually, spiritually, physically and in their relationships with themselves, their family members and others.

The program is designed to go deeper into the subjects of life, excellence, success and the pursuit of happiness in order to help youth become professionals in life and to find peace of mind, so they can share this wisdom with their family, friends and communities as leaders and examples of extraordinary living.

About Sands Cares Accelerator Program:
The Sands Cares Accelerator Program is presented by the Las Vegas Sands corporate giving arm. It is a community partnership endeavor that provides funding to growing nonprofit organizations that have the potential to more greatly impact the local community with the gift of additional resources and nurturing from the Las Vegas Sands.

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