Polar Shades starts manufacturing face masks and hospital gowns for Nevada

Polar Shades Sun Control in Henderson normally manufactures window treatments for its customers. Now they’ve turned to making medical masks and gowns amid the COVID-19 crisis. 

On March 25th the company began to repurpose their equipment to start making PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment) for first responders and hospitals in Nevada. Polar Shades already has two high-speed cutting tables and now these machines will be used to produce protective equipment.

The City of Henderson and the Henderson Fire Department are assisting Polar Shades to secure supplies and manage distribution. While it’s been difficult to meet the demand for protective materials during the pandemic, Polar Shades is still able to produce an impressive amount of goods in the short amount of time since they have started production.

Owner Steve Mevius and his family, along with their 70 employees can produce 2,000 hospital gowns and 8,000 masks a day, even more if they worked around the clock in shifts.

Family-owned for 25 years, Polar Shades has been a generous partner of Andson’s for years, regularly donating to our annual fundraisers that help support the youth in our community. They have a long history of altruism and philanthropy in Las Vegas, frequently donating to schools and other charitable causes. Their quick response to the needs of our community during the COVID-19 crisis was no surprise to us. We are honored to call them our friends and neighbors.

You can see more on this story at: Channel 3 News 

Polar Shades has also released this message on their website:

“We have created a GoFundMe for those who have been reaching out to donate to help with the costs of the supplies and our employees that are making this possible for the State of Nevada. 100% of proceeds go to PPE supplies and helping keep our employees employed. THANK YOU everyone for the overwhelming amount of support and kindness near and far.”

Polar Shades is asking you to call or email if you know of a facility in need of PPEs. Call 702-604-9522 or email stevem@polarshade.com or jordan@polarshade.com.

Forecasting Demand for Andson Services

by Anthony McTaggart

Its the beginning of 2015, and that means that corporations - both for profit and nonprofit - have to report to both shareholders and board members.

I was engaged in a conversation with an engineer at a public corporation recently, where he (and soon, I) was upset about the potential for, and complete lack of forecasting that was going on for production of their product line. Initially, I said to myself "Why aren't they forecasting?" That quickly changed to, "Wait, why aren't WE forecasting?"

Forecasting demand is required for most businesses - but may be overlooked in the nonprofit sector. It’s the analysis of past performance in one’s organization, combined with data that alludes to demand for future products, performance, or markets. In essence, it can be a beautiful symbiosis of art and science, one that usually takes time to hone and eventually master.

Some of us are so busy in the day-to-day that we often don’t plan ahead for what's to come. That can lead to two things: Either we have unsustainable growth that causes unplanned budgetary expenditures, or we get into the "No" mode - where we couldn't possibly grow since we have no time to plan where that funding or partnership might come from. How are we to serve a rapidly growing community if we don't plan for it?

Every window in my office is used as a whiteboard

Going forward for the 2015- 16 school year, we as an organization will be looking at 55% of our programming, in terms of budget and locations, being attributed to pre-existing, in place programming; 25% will come from new funding, meaning new locations. For the other 20%, meaning new business, we will be engaging in real demand forecasting. What this entails, is paying attention to data across the Valley: population growth, new communities, new partner locations (like where a new library or Boys & Girls Club are planned), trends in test scores, and areas of general concern in the community.

This isn't difficult, but it does take meaningful dialogue and time - now is the time to start within your own organizations.

If you think you don't have someone that can do this, you might be pleasantly surprised. Look no further than your Development and Marketing team. Mixed with some programming staff, you can have a forecasting team built and deployed by the end of February! Great Development staff have their ear to the ground and are always identifying new resources. This is learned behavior and can be taught. Great Marketers are used to deploying new collateral quickly, and creating a following. Great programming staff can quickly engage in feasibility analyses to conduct new programs.

Our team is amazing, and we are willing to help! Please contact us if you want to grab a coffee and discuss how to become better at forecasting. It would be a wonderful feeling to know what the next year of partnership holds. We look forward to sustainability and planned growth going forward for both our organization, and yours.

Cheers, Anthony

Spotlight Site - Vegas Verdes Elementary School

Andson operates after school programs in several locations, three of which are Zone schools: Hollingsworth, Sunrise Acres and Vegas Verdes Elementary Schools. This month, we are focusing our spotlight on Vegas Verdes Elementary School.Andson’s Homework Help and Tutoring program is dedicated to offering homework help and tutoring from licensed tutors for every student at Vegas Verdes' after school program by partnering with City of Las Vegas’ Safekey Program. The purpose is to provide academic support by assisting students directly with the homework concepts they may struggle with in class each day. Andson provides tutors and aides Monday through Thursday to work with 3rd and 4th grade students.

To learn more, please take a look at the short video below: