Property, land donation to empower and inspire girls for generations
LAS VEGAS – The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce celebrated the official ribbon cutting of Frias Frontier Camp, a camp for Girl Scouts of all ages, 90 miles north of Las Vegas in Lincoln County on June 5. The $9 million, 70-acre property, which includes a bed and breakfast, restaurant and acres of undeveloped land, was donated by the Charles and Phyllis M. Frias Charitable Trust in 2018 and is the largest single, private donation in the organization’s 91-year history. Since the donation, the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada completed phase one of renovations in order to use the property to host its summer camps and equine program.
The generously donated land — in addition to a separate renovation donation — helps to empower, enrich and inspire girls and young women to be leaders in their communities, with a strong foundation of self-worth, confidence and life skills. Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is hosting its annual summer camps at the site through five sessions this summer, reaching approximately 200 local girls.
“It was a perfect fit with the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada,” said John Mowbray, trustee of the Frias Charitable Trust. “Phyllis built this [property] as a tribute to her late husband. So, their legacy continues now as stewards of the Girl Scouts.”
Although Frias Frontier Camp is located 90 miles away, its story and donation directly impact, and will continue to positively influence, girls in and around the Las Vegas Valley for generations to come. Richard and Jeri Crawford, donors who paid for the first phase of expansion, agreed empowering young women and girls is necessary for the future.
“I was one of the women who broke the glass ceiling in my trade,” said Jeri Crawford, who spent years as the “token woman” in a commercial real estate brokerage. “I think all the experiences I had, including being a Brownie, helped prepare me for that. It’s about giving girls the opportunity.”
In a society in which a woman leading a large corporation or government is still considered an anomaly, an organization such as the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is more important than ever, said Michael Weaver, board member and chief communications officer for Wynn Resorts.
“When we become donors or volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, we are helping to provide young women and girls the developmental and leadership skills they need to become independent, strong leaders in our community,” he said. “We give them the knowledge and support to forge ahead and become future warriors in the fight for equal rights. Empowering, strengthening and educating today’s young women and girls, without a doubt, creates a brighter future for us all.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony and property tour, moderated by Kimberly Trueba, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, and Lita Stein, business development executive for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, hosted donors, including Mowbray and his son, Tyler Mowbray from the Frias Charitable Trust, Rick and Jeri Crawford, and Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada board members, Dolores Campuzano-Pignatello and Lauri Thompson.
“This is what Jeri and I love to do, help the future,” Rick Crawford added. “The Girl Scouts are a part of the girls’ futures, and we are honored to do it.”
ABOUT CHARLES AND PHYLLIS FRIAS
Charles Frias, a cab driver, bought ABC Union Cab Co. in 1962, the first of several successful cab, limousine, and sedan companies he would own during his lifetime. At one time, the Frias companies made up 33% of the transportation industry in Southern Nevada. A Navy veteran and San Antonio, Texas, native, Frias and his wife, Phyllis Frias — an Air Force veteran — moved to Las Vegas on a coin flip in 1958. The Friases were generous during their lifetimes, donating to many local organizations, including a school named for them. After their deaths, the charitable trust in their name donates to causes close to Phyllis Frias’s heart — children’s education and the less fortunate.
ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Founded on April 14, 1932 in Boulder City, Nevada, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada (GSSNV) is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. GSSNV focuses on four key pillars: STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), Outdoor Experiences, Life Skills and Entrepreneurship. GSSNV serves the four southern-most counties in Nevada — Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda — as well as the Southern California counties of Inyo and San Bernardino (eastern border).