The Children’s Cabinet is proud to announce Cindy L. Carano as the recipient of the esteemed Dixie May Philanthropy Award.
Cindy L. Carano is a third-generation Renoite, mother, grandmother, daughter, former foster parent, and philanthropist driven to make a difference in our community through charitable giving and community service.
From her early days in Reno’s public schools to her career in hospitality, Cindy’s commitment to bettering our community has remained steadfast. At a young age, Cindy found passion in philanthropy. She recalls driving around with her mother and brother as a child gathering canned foods to contribute to her school’s donation drive, instilling in her a motivation to help others that would shape her future endeavors.
Cindy was first introduced to The Children’s Cabinet in 1992 during her time on the board of the Nevada Women’s Fund where she spent 6 years dedicated to supporting women and children, a cause she continues to champion today. This introduction marked the beginning of her support for The Children’s Cabinet that would go on to make change for years to come.
As a former foster parent, Cindy uniquely connects with The Children’s Cabinet’s mission to keep children safe and families together. She first became a foster parent unexpectedly when learned that a family member’s 14-year-old neighbor had been abandoned by her mother and was walking herself to school in the middle of winter. Cindy provided the young girl a stable home and the support she needed to graduate high school. She went on to graduate college and is now happily married, accomplishments that may not have been possible without Cindy’s support at such a critical time in her life. Later, Cindy once again found herself becoming a foster parent to a family member, and thanks to the support she provided, the family is now reunited and thriving together.
Cindy continued her philanthropic legacy serving as Chair of the Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) at the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. Here, she continued to drive change for The Children’s Cabinet helping fund a position for a Youth Mental Health Collective Impact Advisor to address the unmet mental health needs of youth in our community. Cindy remains an integral part of the WGC and recently supported funding for a new Family Support Navigator at The Children’s Cabinet, helping strengthen support for families of youth with positive Signs of Suicide (SOS) screenings.
Cindy is a passionate advocate for mental health initiatives. One of the great highlights of her career was working with the Child Advocacy Center on the founding board of the Friends of the Child Advocacy Center, supporting counseling and therapy for women and children to break the cycle of abuse.
Her philanthropic efforts are as diverse as they are impactful. Cindy has supported a myriad of organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. Her support for after-school programs, inspired by Eldorado staff, underscores her attentiveness to the needs of those around her. A testament to her family’s legacy, the Boys and Girls Club center on Bresson Street is named in honor of her father.
Cindy’s contributions extend to other vital community organizations such as Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, the Center for Spiritual Living Reno, the Nevada Basketball Academy, Sky Tavern and many others. Beyond her support in Northern Nevada, Cindy firmly believes in supporting the communities in our backyard with contributions to organizations like Keep Memory Alive in Las Vegas focused on combating neurological conditions.
Among her work with other community organizations, her support for The Children’s Cabinet has impacted countless families. Cindy is a continuous supporter of Adopt A Family, providing holiday gifts to families in need, and personally supported peer-to-peer youth suicide prevention programming.
Through the newly-formed CLC Family Foundation, Cindy aims to create a lasting change. With her daughter and a close friend serving as advisors, the foundation aspires to grow its capital and make significant contributions to the community. Cindy’s vision is clear: to leave the community better than she found it and to foster a spirit of giving in future generations.
Her philanthropic journey is guided by a firm belief in the power of community and the importance of giving back. Her story is a powerful reminder that everyone can contribute to making a difference.
Cindy’s life’s work embodies the very essence of philanthropy, creating a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire and uplift our community for generations to come.
