Anthem kids answer nation's call

When 7-year-old Ben Tourek woke up Saturday morning, he wanted to help the victims and families affected by the events of Sept. 11. He asked his parents if he could raise money by running a lemonade stand.

"I saw other people doing things to help, so I called my friend Mathew to see if he wanted to sell lemonade with me," Ben said.

Mathew Dees, a fellow second-grade pupil at Lamping Elementary School, was excited to help.

"I wanted to raise money for the Red Cross to give to doctors to pay for medicine for the people that were injured," Mathew said.

The two spent the morning making signs and setting up flags for the stand. They set up shop at the entrance to the Desert Highlands neighborhood in Anthem Country Club. The neighborhood is located along the golf course and the boys thought it would be the perfect place to sell lemonade.

The pair saw many customers that day and were able to raise more than $65 in less than two hours.

"People were more interested in donating than our lemonade," Mathew said.

After a full day the two were tired, but felt satisfied.

"It made me feel good because I knew that we probably helped a lot of people," Mathew said.

Ben Tourek is already thinking of new ways to help. "I've been thinking about maybe selling some toys that I don't play with anymore and some other ideas, too."

The 24-hour guard-gated community where they live is located in Henderson. It offers 20 distinctive floor plans, ranging from 1,275 to more than 5,000 square feet, and there are many architectural options including casitas, second stories and basements.

Prices start at $200,000 to more than $1 million.

Club members enjoy use of the members-only restaurants and athletic club, which offers fitness equipment, swimming pool, tennis courts, aerobics studio, basketball, volleyball and tennis. Also for members is a full-service salon.

The community is also home to a 73,000-yard, par-72 championship golf course, which is built into the area's desert and mountain terrain. Equity golf memberships are available for purchase to all club members separately.

To tour the model village, take Interstate 215 east to Eastern Avenue, about three miles south of St. Rose Parkway. The sales center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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