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By Blake Boles 
 
NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (November 3rd, 2016) – In a decked out ballroom fit for an inauguration, the veteran service organization U.S. Vets hosted its 8th Annual Benefit Dinner. The event, held at the Aliante Casino, Resort and Spa, included a vast live auction, a brass quartet, photo booth, and a ‘Wine Pull’ table 40 feet long. Proceeds went toward the U.S. Vets Las Vegas location’s operational costs for the next year. Overall, over $100,000 was raised in a single night, something the organization has never done before.  
 
U.S. Vets, a multi-state non-profit started in the early 1990s, has been wildly successful in Las Vegas. Their focus isn’t just to house veterans, but to educate, train, sustain, counsel, enable and encourage veterans to improve their lives. Their methods are working: 80 percent of their veterans move out of the U.S. Vets facility and into their own accommodations within 55 days. A full 90 percent of veterans that have transitioned to permanent housing have stayed in that housing, or have moved on to even better accommodations. “We’re proud of that success, but that does not mean that our work is finished,” said Executive Director Shalimar Cabrera. 
 
Hosted by popular radio and television personality Nathan Tannenbaum, guests included several representatives from Nevada’s Congressional delegation, government agencies, several veteran service organizations, community non-profits, uniformed veterans, and delegates from many national and local businesses. 
 
Cabrera, commenting on the theme of the evening, wanted to stress that their assistance to veterans in need isn’t a matter of focusing on the negative. “Over the years, we’ve come to learn the stories of our veterans, their challenges and their struggles of course. But more importantly, their resilience. And what we’ve been through but also what they’ve overcome. So we felt really good about the theme here today: Strength, Survive, Overcome.” To illustrate that fact, several alumni were brought on stage and honored for their commitment and success. 
 
Everyone when asked stated the event was a smashing success. Cabrera was understandably ebullient. “I’ve been in this position so long that I can actually say, the visions that all of us in our organization have had over the years have become reality.”  
 
U.S. Vets is located at 525 E Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89101. For more information on the mission of U.S. Vets, or how to get involved, please go to www.usvetsinc.org/lasvegas/ or call 702-366-0456.