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helping Las Vegas’ underserved youth build a meaningful bond with nature and to understand the need to protect it. It takes a team!

VOLUNTEERING Q&A

Opportunities open now, click below:

SIERRA CLUB, Las Vegas ICO--Inspiring Connections Outdoors Volunteer Opportunities | VolunteerMatch

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Elizabeth (Betty) Gallifent   

Elizabeth (Betty) Gallifent passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at her home in Las Vegas. Betty was married for 52 years to John Gallifent.  He preceded her in death in 2022.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Isabel (Woelfel) Gruber and her brother, John Gruber.

She was born August 12, 1946, and raised on a dairy farm in rural Chilton, WI.  As a youth she was an active member of a county 4-H club.  She graduated from Chilton High School in 1964 and attended four years of college at UW-Oshkosh earning a degree in education.

Betty moved to Las Vegas in 1968 and worked for the Clark County School District for 36 years as classroom teacher, reading specialist and school principal.  She worked predominately in under-resourced communities and made great efforts to bring the outside world into the classroom.  In her retirement years she helped establish Las Vegas ICO (Inspiring Connections Outdoors), an outreach program of the Sierra Club, which provided nature outings and wilderness experiences for underserved urban youth.  Through these outings, she worked with other volunteers to help youth build a meaningful bond with nature and understand the need to protect it.

She is survived by her siblings Frank (Sue) Gruber, Ann (Kurt) Beyreis, Joe (Jamie VanHoof) Gruber, Rose (Neil) Coisman, Tony (Mary) Gruber, Martha (Dave) Rady, Larry (Elise Teichert) Gruber and numerous nieces and nephews.

Our beloved sister and friend will be remembered as a wonderful combination of adventure, beauty and action. She was an avid hiker, an excellent cook, a worldwide traveler and environmentally conscious. She was a very thoughtful and passionate person who inspired those around her with her courage, wisdom and generosity.  She will live on forever in our hearts.

GALLIFENT ENDOWMENT SUPPORTS DRI SCIENCE

In July Betty Gallifent recently established the Elizabeth and John Gallifent Endowment, which will provide unrestricted support for the Desert Research Institute.

“I first learned about DRI by attending the Las Vegas Science and Technology Festival at DRI and am excited to be able to support science that will allow us to live with the greatest quality of life,” said Betty.

“By establishing this endowment at DRI we will honor the Gallifents’ legacy in perpetuity and are forever grateful for Betty’s kindness,” said President Kumud Acharya. “This is a transformational gift.”

DRI is Nevada’s non-profit research institute, founded in 1959 to empower experts to focus on science that matters including the prolonged drought and global warming. 

Betty with ICO

Her voice narrating our PSA:

KIKO VISION: Inspiring Connections Outdoors (Volunteering) - YouTube

On outings:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DsBNpGyePJGe3sgV9

A slideshow . . .

lATEST OUTINGS:

2024: Revitalizing + Partnering

Sad News:

Dear Las Vegas ICO volunteers (past & present) and friends of Las Vegas ICO,

It is with a heavy, heavy heart to inform you that our dear friend Betty Gallifent passed away Wednesday, July 31, in the comfort of her home. Her obituary is in the left column. Her family honored her in a private ceremony. As you all may know, Betty was our steady rock, when it came to all things Las Vegas Inspiring Connections Outdoors.

Her love for and dedication to ICO was unwavering through the end. I am grateful for all the direction she's given me through the years. Her presence will be missed immensely.

She hosted the last OLT training at her home in the summer of 2023, followed by a hike with our newest leaders. Betty and I also attended a memorable retreat with the Angeles ICO last September, where you'll see her dancing to a drum circle in this pic, along with a blow up of our hike to a waterfall.

Please share your favorite photos of her by emailing us a lasvegasico702@gmail.com with Subject: Sad news for Las Vegas ICO. We will honor her dedication to ICO in various ways*, so photos would be a wonderful start.

Sincere regards,

Cynthia — LVICO Chair/Outdoor Leader — cjregidor@gmail.com ph. 646-734-5347

—-LVICO is sponsoring a memorial brick at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

—-Twelve trees are being planted by the Arbor Day Foundation in a forest of great need in honor of Betty, celebrating the 12 years that she inspired urban kids to love nature, due to a donation from a long-time LVICO volunteer.

Betty’s 2019 Annual report tallied

• 30 outings completed

• 275 participants served

• 30 partner agencies

• 37 active volunteers