Bishop Manogue students attended the Philanthropy Leaders Summit, which connects philanthropists from all over Nevada, this last Friday at the Nevada Museum of Art. Lucas Fyda, Elijah Kirwan, Avery Struby, Sienna Lamb, and Kaylee Sanchez represented Bishop Manogue, while Sophia Rauenhorst was invited to speak about her experience as a youth philanthropist by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada.

The Philanthropy Leaders Summit is held by the Moonridge Group every year simultaneously in Reno and Las Vegas. This year, the theme was “Where the Future of Giving is Going,” and students from several schools across Nevada were invited to attend. Speakers included chefs Aarón Sánchez and Justin Fredrickson, who spoke about their experiences with food and philanthropy, Megan Bradley, who discussed how marketing can help philanthropic endeavors, and Brian Gordon, who discussed the state of corporate giving in Nevada. Dr. Gary K. Michelson, an orthopedic spinal surgeon and founder of Michelson Philanthropies, delivered the keynote speech about his philanthropic philosophy.

The summit also included a tribute to Konner Robison, a young philanthropist from Reno who passed away in late 2023. Sophia Rauenhorst delivered her remarks following his tribute, and reflected on his impact and her own philanthropic experience as a young person.

Avery Struby, one of the students in attendance, reflected on her experience, saying, “The Philanthropy Leaders Summit was inspiring for me in the sense that I was able to listen to and interact with people who have dedicated themselves to bettering our community.” The summit indeed focused on empowerment of your people, as the speakers reflected on what they’d tell their younger self.

Struby continued, “It made me realize that I would also like to invest my time, talent, and treasure to make a profound impact on those around me.” These young people in attendance are sure to change the world, starting with what they learned at the summit.