OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE KICKS OFF EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR LAS VEGAS GREAT SANTA RUN, JUNE 21
51s, Hey Reb!, and Lights Mascots will be joined by Mayor Carolyn Goodman, FIT4MOM and more to launch early-bird sign-ups for 14th annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run
It might be the first day of summer, but Las Vegas has Santa on the brain. Las Vegas Great Santa Run – the most wonderful fun run of the year – will kick off early registration during its highly anticipated official launch event on Thursday, June 21. Hosted by beloved Las Vegas nonprofit Opportunity Village in Downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Great Santa Run Registration Launch will celebrate with a parade, special guests and more.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the parade will stretch from Las Vegas Boulevard to the Main Street Stage on Fremont Street Experience. Zappos llamas decked in reindeer ears will lead the procession, followed by summertime Santa himself and Las Vegas’ well-known sporting mascots from the Las Vegas 51s, UNLV and Las Vegas Lights FC. Shortly after the parade, FIT4MOM – the nation’s leading prenatal and postnatal fitness program for mothers – will take over the Main Street Stage to engage attendees and passersby in an energetic exercise program. Also taking the stage with be Legends in Concert’s young Michael Jackson (Nathaniel Cullors) to help get you in the holiday spirit.
Joined by The Chippendales, Mayor Carolyn Goodman will make a special appearance to present the World Santa Alliance trophy to Opportunity Village. The award celebrates Las Vegas Great Santa Run as the world’s largest Santa fun run in 2017, beating its biggest rival in Liverpool.
This year, Circle K has continued the tradition of serving as the presenting sponsor of Opportunity Village’s Great Santa Run. Additionally, as the Official Host Hotel for this year’s event, packet pickup will take place at Plaza Hotel & Casino. The Plaza also will offer free parking to all registrants on race day this December.
”The Plaza is committed to supporting events and causes that make positive contributions to downtown and the greater Las Vegas community,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of Plaza Hotel & Casino. “The Great Santa Run is a longstanding, successful event that brings thousands of people to downtown while supporting the great work Opportunity Village does in the Las Vegas Valley. We are proud to be an event sponsor and look forward to welcoming all of the Santas to downtown and the Plaza.”
All prospective runners are invited to join the celebration to receive a limited-time $20 registration. The Las Vegas Great Santa Run is one of Opportunity Village’s largest annual fundraisers and helps the not-for-profit enhance the lives of more than 2,000 Southern Nevadans with intellectual and related disabilities. Last December, Grand Marshal Holly Madison and Honorary Chairman Wayne Newton attended to cheer on Santa-clad participants. For more information, visit www.LVSantaRun.com.
About Opportunity Village
Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people within our community with significant intellectual disabilities, to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Seven families who were determined to give their children with disabilities the best lives possible founded Opportunity Village in 1954. Now, more than 60 years later, Opportunity Village is one of the most recognized and respected organizations of its type in the United States. As Nevada’s largest employer of people with disabilities, Opportunity Village serves more than 2,000 individuals annually, providing vocational training, employment, habilitation and social recreation programs and services that make their lives more purposeful and interesting. Opportunity Village citizens – individuals who were previously considered unemployable – work at Opportunity Village’s Employment Resource Centers and in jobs throughout the community, collectively earning wages amounting to more than $3.7 million in 2016. They are hard-working and diligent, proudly paying taxes and happily leading more fulfilling lives. Primarily a self-funded organization, Opportunity Village generates the majority of its operational funding through its employment contracts and fundraising efforts such as the Magical Forest and Great Santa Run, saving Nevada taxpayers more than $37 million annually.