Gardnerville youth raises money for Austin's House

Raechel Prosser, 15, of Gardnerville, hopes to raise money for Austin's House/Carson Valley Children's Center by placing donation cans at local businesses.

The children's center, soon to be constructed off Sunridge Drive in North Douglas County, will provide short-term placements of Douglas County youth in need of safe housing. The 5,300-square-foot residence is named "Austin's House" as a tribute to a Gardnerville youth who died last year.

Raechel, a Douglas High School sophomore, found nine businesses in Carson Valley so far that will keep her donation can next to the cash register, including, Dance Workshop, Especially For You, Legends Salon, Pamper You Nail Salon, Baby Willows, Kid Pix, A La Carte Nails, Changes Salon and C & Co.

"I'm trying to raise $1,000 in the month of April," said Raechel.

Raechel wanted to help build the center because she thought it was a worthwhile cause, but she is not new to helping out the community. She makes it a point to becoming involved in everything she has time for.

She started her own U.S. Dream Academy mentoring group at Douglas High School, organizing 10 students to tutor 10 students at Gardnerville Elementary School, where she attended as a child.

Raechel is the current Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen. She has competed in local and national beauty pageants since she was a baby. In fact, she won her first competition, Nevada's Most Beautiful Baby, and appeared in The Record-Courier for the first time in June 1991.

Other pageants Raechel won the overall title in are: Miss American Beauty, Fabulous Faces, Crowning Moments and the Gingerbread pageant.

When asked what career she's looking toward in the future, Raechel said she's not sure.

"I like fashion photography and I've always thought about journalism," she said.