Communities In Schools of Nevada receives 24 “Classroom in a Box” supplies from the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, in partnership with the Public Education Foundation

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (February 25, 2025) --- Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada (CIS), part of the nation’s leading evidence-based stay-in-school nonprofit organization serving schools in Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe County school districts, has received a donation of 24 “Classroom in a Box” supplies from The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the Public Education Foundation (PEF).

Each valued at $500 and each personally autographed by O’Neal, the PEF-created boxes supply classrooms with essential materials for up to 30 students. The boxes were distributed to four CCSD schools served by CIS, including Manuel J. Cortez Elementary School, Ruben P. Diaz Elementary School, Ann Lynch Elementary School and Mario C. & Joanne Monaco Middle School.

“We are so grateful for partners like the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and the Public Education Foundation, who are proof of the positive differences we can make when working together to serve our children,” said Debbie Palacios, Executive Director, Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada. “With only a few months remaining in the school year, this donation not only helps up to 24 teachers who often have to dig into their own pockets to ensure their classrooms have adequate supplies, it will support more than 720 students, allowing them to learn and finish the school year strong.”

“At The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation, we believe that every child deserves the tools they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Dr. Lisa Morris Hibbler, Executive Director, The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. “We're proud to partner on this project to ensure students are fully equipped for the second semester, empowering them to focus on learning, growing, and reaching their full potential.”

“We are honored to partner with the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to provide the Classroom in a Box to hard-working educators who often purchase the supplies their students need to participate in the classroom and do their homework,” shared Peter Guzman, Board Chair of the Public Education Foundation. “These supplies will help ensure our students have access to the resources they need for learning at school and at home, and we know Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada will get them directly to the students and teachers who need them the most.”

NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal and founder of The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, is also a member of CIS national board of directors. No stranger to showing its support for CIS, the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation is also working on a multi-million-dollar collaborative youth facility to benefit CIS and nonprofit partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the facility will feature the country’s first-ever CIS Alumni Center.

Since 2004, CIS of Nevada has demonstrated measurable success in student outcomes. Of note is the high school graduation rate of 97 percent for CIS case-managed graduation-eligible students in Nevada for the 2023-2024 school year, a record for CIS and proof of the success of CIS’ evidence-based methodology that helps students stay in school and on track to graduate. Over the past three years, CIS achieved a remarkable 5 percent graduation rate increase.

About Communities In Schools of Nevada

CIS places full-time and professionally trained site coordinators in 118 Title I and high-needs schools across Nevada to support more than 100,000 students in grades K-12 who face barriers to their success—increasing the likelihood of students staying in school and graduating on time. The organization taps into a statewide network of more than 120 community nonprofits, partners, and agencies, bringing the community into the school to get students whatever they need to overcome the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving academically. From eyeglasses, dental care, health care, and professional counseling to food, school supplies, clothing, transportation, and housing, CIS identifies student needs and finds a way to address them, closing the gaps they experience in their everyday lives. CIS's long-term vision is for every child enrolled in a Title I or high-needs school to access a CIS site coordinator and their evidence-based model of integrated student support, otherwise known as wraparound services. The graduation rate for CIS case-managed high school seniors in Nevada for the 2023-2024 school year was 97 percent. For more information, visit http://www.cisnevada.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.