You guys never cease to amaze me.
In the last year, someone who should know better suggested that the distribution numbers of a newspaper with free distribution are largely irrelevant because most recipients of a free publication just toss it in the trash. Readers of The Reflector repeatedly prove that theory wrong and last week provided yet another example of that.
In last week’s edition (Jan. 7) of the paper, we had a story on CAM Academy administrator Micah Hilario’s battle with ALS and a fundraiser to help purchase a van and electric wheelchair. An account had been set up at www.GoFundMe.com in Hilario’s name and prior to the publication of The Reflector’s story a little more than $3,000 had been raised toward the goal of $20,000.
As I write this on the morning of Jan. 9 (three days prior to the actual fundraiser at Mill Creek Pub), a little more than $11,000 has been donated to Hilario’s GoFundMe account. By the time you read this, I’m confident that goal of $20,000 will have been met. In addition to that, there has also been an offer from a member of the community to gift an electric wheelchair to Hilario.
It’s yet another example of how loyal and engaged readers of The Reflector are and how responsive you are to the needs of your community.
Mill Creek Pub owner Russell Brent, and his staff, also deserve a great deal of credit for their role in the fundraising effort. Not only did Brent host the fundraiser for Hilario on Jan. 12, which includes a proceed of sales being directed to the cause, but he also agreed for Mill Creek Pub to match cash donations made that day up to $250.
Reflector readers, Brent and Mill Creek Pub staff members, take a bow. You continue to reinforce what makes the North Clark County community such a great place to live and work.
Each year, the Circulation Verification Council conducts readership surveys of newspapers such as ours. The most recent survey indicates that of the more than 29,000 readers of The Reflector, 88.4 percent actually read or at least look through our paper each week. And, possibly even more impressive, 80.4 percent of the responses to the survey indicate that they purchase products and services from ads in The Reflector.
We appreciate that kind of support. And, I know members of our community, such as Micah Hilario and his family, do as well.
Ken Vance
Editor
