Help Austin's House win $100,000

Austin's House has made it to the finals in the Pacific Region of the Vivint Gives Back Project. Vivint is giving away $1.25 million to local charities and Austin's House has a chance to win $100,000 for the most votes in the Pacific Region. As of June 21, Austin's House is currently in 16th place.

"Something like this would be like having six fundraisers," said Conrad Buedel, board of directors vice president. "If we can get the whole community behind us it would mean so much. This time we're not asking for money, we're asking people to vote."

The contest is being conducted on Facebook and it's easy to participate. It takes less than one minute to sign up and vote. Austin's House is asking the community to sign up for a Facebook account and vote today and every day until Aug. 27.

Visit www.austinshouse.org and click on the orange heart icon on the right side of the home page. Once at the Vivint Web site, sign in to your Facebook account, agree to like Vivint and allow additional permissions on Facebook. Then click on the vote box. This is the easiest way to help local children in crisis. It costs nothing and takes less than one minute per day. Sign up, vote and help Austin's House win $100,000.

Austin's House is the only emergency children's shelter in rural Northern Nevada. The children are placed at Austin's House after being removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children have no place else to go, according to Buedel. Austin's House provides the basic living necessities including proper nutrition, hygiene, rest, nurturing, recreation, companionship, education, and life skills training. Austin's House has cared for more than 170 children since opening in September 2007. For more information about Austin's House or help signing up for Facebook and voting in the contest, call (775) 267-6711.