Light The Night Walk
Light The Night Walk, a Community Success Story
Light the Night Walk on Saturday November 1st at the Learning Village next to Container Park was a spectacular display of people supporting people and Las Vegas Expo was proud to be a contributing corporation for the walk for Leukemia & Lymphomas Society’s annual fundraiser, (www.lightthenight.org/snv). Las Vegas Expo provided equipment, signage, banners and graphics and built the 1864 Lounge a throwback nod to the founding of Nevada as a state. Contributing Teams that raised over $10,000 and individuals who raised over $1,864 were welcomed into the VIP Top Team Village for food from Maggianos and massages from Massage Envy. Those who raised $100 or more are recognized as Champions for Cures and picked up lanterns, t-shirts, and enjoyed complimentary food courtesy of Crazy Pita and Raising Canes. Las Vegas Expo’s Production staff, warehouse crew, Exhibitor Services team, Graphic Design department along with Sales, Project management, administrative support staff and Executive management team were there to help, all hands on deck!!!
Living and working in a destination and convention jackpot like Las Vegas is not just about acting as a mercenary and profiting from the millions of meeting attendees and vacationers that arrive every year to exhibit or attend a trade show, participate in a conference or are here to have fun; Las Vegas is so popular because people travelling here for business can always do both too. Ingrained in Las Vegas Expo’s corporate culture is the spirit of giving that Bob Cordaro, founder and President of Las Vegas Expo and the Cordaro family has forged as part of our mission to give back to the community. Reaping the fruits of our business affords us the ability to support many organizations that are helping others in the Las Vegas Valley we call home.
It is rare for a family, friend or our neighbors not to have been impacted by health issues that can be catastrophic and devastating. When illness touches our loved ones the results are broad sweeping affecting not only the patient who is fighting to get better but emotionally draining and often financially devastating to the entire family. So, when called upon to marshal our equipment resources, graphics capabilities, company staff, union labor and financial support for Special Events that raise money for research, patient services ,family support and increase awareness for a good cause, Las Vegas Expo feels it is our duty and calling to help others that are in need.
Light The Night is one of those events that Las Vegas Expo rallies for. It was a beautiful clear, fall evening as the sun was setting. When people hear Las Vegas they think Heat. But as the change of the clocks approached that evening, we locals were a bit chilly in what people from anywhere else would have thought to be downright balmy weather. As a result, our free Coffee and Hot Chocolate service was overwhelmed. Rumor has it that even the experts from LV Metro Police were lining up for a few tasty cups with their connoisseur’s stamp of approval. Working like robust, busy Big city Coffee Shop servers (sorry coffee elitists, your choices were coffee, hot chocolate or a combo for those missing their Macchiato. Disclaimer, this writer is a big fan of Chocolate milk so the whole thing was a revelation.) By night’s end when the final walkers came back to the Freemont and 8th Street location Las Vegas Expo had served up a whopping 2600 cups. There was a hustle and bustle work ethic from Las Vegas Expo’s staff with an outrageous amount of fun as young and old alike left our area with a warm cup and a smile on their face.
We love our jobs and if there was ever a doubt, serving up piping hot brew for hours made NONE of us want to apply for a Barista position at Starbucks. With food vendors and corporate supporters providing additional on site logistics and equipment, the event took place in the Learning Center on Fremont Street with a mini village assembled by many companies along with Las Vegas Expo; Next Level Events, Trade Show Technical, RSVP, Color Gamut, and Zappos the main event sponsor. Food, great performances on stage, crafts and games in the KidsZone and a whole lot of love preceded the awe inspiring sight of thousands of glowing lanterns being held high. The walk was a parade of Light as it circled around the Fremont Street experience and downtown area that have been rejuvenated by Zappos’ corporate headquarters footprint and the city of Las Vegas’ Downtown Development Initiatives.
Light The Night had over 2500 Registered walk participants with another 3000 people walking in support passing by Container Park’s fire breathing Praying Mantis to cheer them on to begin. Las Vegas Metro Police estimated 7500 people were at the Event. The best news was that the event far exceeded its fundraising goal hitting just under half million dollars. Our Corporate Giving friends combined for a Volunteer workforce numbering in the hundreds to help make this a successful fundraiser.
Las Vegas Expo’s Corporate Giving program is locally driven and action based. With so many organizations doing positive work in our hometown (and nationally) that need companies like Las Vegas Expo to step up to the plate we do our best to help. Realistically, it’s impossible to help every group seeking assistance but we sure do try to direct our resources to worthy groups both large and small. Some of the other worthy charitable organizations Las Vegas Expo is involved with annually are: Lili Claire Foundation, No More Homeless Pets, Win-Win Entertainment, Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, Alzheimer’s Foundation, City of Las Vegas YO Court.
If you would like to learn more about Las Vegas Expo and our Community Giving Program, contact Nicholas Cordaro, Executive Vice President – nick@lvexpo.com
If you would like to watch our video on this event, please visit our Video Gallery.
Contributed by: Mitch Isaacs – Sales & Marketing Manager
