Internationally Recognized Creators of “Las Vegas Great Santa Run” to Host First Santa Run Summit, October 16 and 17
Las Vegas’ Opportunity Village Invites Fellow Race Directors and Fundraisers to Sin City for Educational and Networking Conference
As one of the leaders in the popular world of philanthropic fun runs, Opportunity Village, a beloved Las Vegas nonprofit and creators of the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, will hold its first Santa Run Summit October 16 through October 17. The conference will feature exciting sessions and workshops for race directors, fundraisers and event managers from around the globe who are currently hosting or would like to coordinate a Santa-themed race event or other fundraiser.
Joining Opportunity Village will be members of the World Santa Alliance, a community of Santa fun run directors and organizers from around the world. Taking place at its Oakey Campus in Las Vegas, Opportunity Village, members from the World Santa Alliance and other professionals in the fun run industry will host a variety of educational and networking sessions for attendees, including Fundraising Best Practices; Event Marketing, Promotion & Social Media; and Santa Run 101 & Beyond.
Opportunity Village will commemorate a decade of the Las Vegas Great Santa Run on Saturday, December 6 in Downtown Las Vegas. The Great Santa Run has raised millions of dollars in the past 10 years to support programs for Southern Nevada residents with disabilities. Gathering more than 11,000 Kris Kringles in 2013, the Great Santa Run is the three-year reigning champion of the “World Santa Challenge,” a contest for the largest Santa Run in the world.
“We are thrilled to work with individuals who are just as passionate as we are about fundraising for their respective causes,” said Linda Smith, Chief Development Officer and Associate Executive Director of Opportunity Village. “The Great Santa Run is near and dear to our hearts, so we can’t wait to share the bevy of knowledge we’ve procured from putting on this race for some many years.”
During the Santa Run Summit, Opportunity Village will host a media preview for this year’s Great Santa Run, including sneak peeks of this year’s festivities and other thrilling announcements. In addition, Santa Run Summit attendees will go behind the scenes at Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest, a stunning Christmas-themed attraction that serves as one of organization’s major fundraisers.
Costs for participating in the Santa Run Summit are as follows: individual conference registration is $250; and vendor tables are $100. To register, visit Opportunity Village’s website.
About Opportunity Village
Opportunity Village is a not-for-profit organization that serves people in our community with significant intellectual disabilities, enriching their lives and the lives of the families who love them by providing meaningful work and life experiences. Voted by Las Vegas Review-Journal readers for “Best Community Organization,” Opportunity Village is Nevada’s largest employer of people with disabilities. Serving nearly 3,000 individuals annually, Opportunity Village provides its clients with vocational training, employment, habilitation and social recreation programs and services to make their lives more productive and interesting.
This year, Opportunity Village will also celebrate its 60th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the organization will aim to raise $136 million, which will be used to fulfill several key initiatives, including the development of its first residential village at the Engelstad campus, followed by a new campus and residential village in the Northwest Valley.