Criss Angel Raises More than $1.3 Million at Birthday Party
Benefactors include Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada,
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Johnny Crisstopher Foundation
Photos (Credit – @JerryMetellus):
Superstar magician Criss Angel recently celebrated his 55th birthday with a private concert and auction event at House of Blues Las Vegas to benefit families battling pediatric cancer and other critical illnesses. In addition to a personal donation of $1 million from Angel, the event raised over $315,000 from other donors and auction items. Local nonprofit organizations, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada and the Cure 4 the Kids Foundation, each received $250,000 from the event’s proceeds. The remaining proceeds will be distributed within the community through future grants. No expenses for the event were deducted, following Angel’s mandate that 100% of proceeds always go directly to the specified charities.
“Criss Angel has been a true angel for our organization,” said Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada’s President & CEO, Scott Rosenzweig. “As a longtime wish-granter turned wish-dad, he has been an incredible advocate for kids and families faced with the unimaginable. Even before his son was diagnosed with cancer, he generously shared his time and money with Make-A-Wish to help us create hope and joy for critically ill kids since 2001. With this most recent gift, his generosity has risen to a new level. We are humbled to have his support.”
In 2015, Angel’s son, Johnny Crisstopher, was diagnosed with leukemia and received treatment at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. Johnny received his Make-A-Wish to meet You Tuber Ryan Toys Review in December 2018. In 2022, Angel announced that Johnny was finally able to ring the cancer-free bell symbolizing his remission and the end of treatment.
“Our family has a superhero,” Angel said. “A boy who went through more than six years of fighting pediatric cancer with the amazing benefit of the medical team at Cure 4 The Kids who oversaw his treatment, and then the team at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada who helped him emotionally and filled him with hope during an otherwise dark time. That combination was paramount and powerful for Johnny Crisstopher, helping him to get to the finish line of ringing that remission bell on January 28, 2022.”
Angel has been an active supporter of the children and their families in our community, donating millions of dollars through his Johnny Crisstopher Charitable Foundation and lending his time and support.
“We are so grateful for the ongoing support and incredible generosity of Criss Angel” said Annete Logan-Parker, Founder and CEO of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. “Criss’ contribution has allowed us to expand our charity program in an extremely meaningful way, because of his generosity we can provided financial assistance to many more families struggling with the financial toxicity of childhood cancer.”
Angel’s star-studded birthday party featured Paul Stanley, Robin Zander, Stephen Pearcy, Sebastian Bach, Tony Orlando, and a host of other music legends, celebrities, and comedians.
About Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada
Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The organization seeks to bring the power of a wish to every eligible child because every step of the wish journey can help children build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Since the chapter’s founding in 1996, more than 2,500 wishes have been granted for children in the local community. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada and 58 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 350,000 wishes nationwide. For more information about Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada, visit wish.org/snv.
About Cure 4 The Kids Foundation
Founded in Las Vegas in 2007, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation provides high-quality, research-focused medical treatment to children battling cancer and rare diseases. C4K achieves the extraordinary with a model of success based on transformative innovation. We are one team with one vision and one mission centered around clinical excellence and compassionate care. As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, we are committed to being a new kind of healthcare organization; one that blends the best of what corporate healthcare, education, and research have to offer with the generosity and spirit of charity. This hybrid model allows us to perform like a traditional healthcare facility in terms of best practices yet also allows us to create a uniquely family-centered patient experience. Our Charity Care Program ensures that those without medical insurance or who are unable to pay for services still receive the treatment they deserve. For more information, visit www.cure4thekids.org.
About Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation
The mission of the Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and provide funds for research, treatment, and – ultimately – a cure. Unlike many other not-for-profit charities, 100% of donations go directly to this fight; NOT one cent is deducted for ANY expenses, salaries, or overhead. Criss Angel funds the operations of the foundation personally and has since its inception in 2008. It became his life’s mission (after working with childhood causes since 2001) when recently, his own child, Johnny Crisstopher, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 at 20 months old.