Four Cristo Rey St. Viator students are working with Make-A-Wish Nevada thanks to a partnership funded by Marker Trax and Koin, giving them hands-on nonprofit and business experience in North Las Vegas.
For four students at Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School in North Las Vegas, school now includes time spent working alongside professionals in Nevada’s nonprofit and business communities. Marker Trax and Koin have teamed up to fund these students’ wages as they join Make-A-Wish Nevada, taking part in a five-day-a-week program that puts them in the middle of real workplace projects.
The students, chosen through an application process, rotate through roles at Make-A-Wish Nevada. They help with marketing, event planning, and sometimes attend off-site events. Jason DiOrio, the school’s director of partnerships, says placements are matched to each student’s interests, so those drawn to nonprofit work end up with organizations like Make-A-Wish.
How the program works
Unlike most work-study programs, Marker Trax and Koin pay the students directly, so neither the nonprofit nor the students’ families have to cover the cost. The program runs every weekday, with a rotating schedule on Fridays, and is designed to give students a range of responsibilities beyond basic office work. DiOrio says the students have already contributed ideas that Make-A-Wish’s marketing team has used, and they’ve been involved in planning and running events.
Cristo Rey St. Viator opened in North Las Vegas in 2019 and is part of a national network of Catholic high schools that started in Chicago in 1996. The school’s model centers on corporate work-study partnerships, which help students—many from single-parent families—pay for their education while learning job skills. The Cristo Rey network is a registered nonprofit with headquarters in Houston, as listed on Charity Navigator. The program relies on careful placement and ongoing support, not just sending students into unfamiliar workplaces.
Corporate and community impact
Charlie Skinner, president of Marker Trax and Koin, learned about the program from Lisa Parkland, the school’s president and his neighbor. After visiting the school and seeing what the students were doing, Skinner said supporting the program was an easy decision. He pointed out that students gain valuable work experience, while Make-A-Wish Nevada gets extra help to support its mission for children with critical illnesses.
“If you’ve never been to the school, it’s pretty incredible what these kids are accomplishing,” Skinner said. He noted the resilience of students from at-risk and lower-income backgrounds and credited the school’s faculty for their commitment, which influenced Marker Trax and Koin’s involvement.
Las Vegas context and broader trends
Las Vegas has seen more partnerships connecting education, business, and community service. The Cristo Rey model stands out for focusing on underprivileged youth and working closely with local employers. According to the Cristo Rey network, these high schools use a work-study model that pairs students with employers to help pay tuition and build job skills, creating a pathway for workforce development in communities across the country. This approach is similar to other recent investments in the region’s workforce, such as the recapitalization of MorningStar Senior Living at The Canyons in Summerlin, which also shows how private sector support can shape local opportunities.
For Marker Trax and Koin, the partnership is a way to develop local talent and build stronger community ties. The students’ work at Make-A-Wish Nevada is already making a difference, and the companies’ involvement reflects a growing awareness that Las Vegas’ future depends on investing in its young people. As more local businesses look at similar partnerships, the city’s focus on entertainment and hospitality is increasingly matched by efforts to support workforce development and community impact.
