The Las Vegas Chapter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Presents the First Traveling Hearts of Las Vegas Collection in Partnership with El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Ten heart sculptures will be unveiled on Jackie Gaughan Plaza Thursday, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino and the Las Vegas Chapter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have partnered to host the first traveling Hearts of Las Vegasexhibit, featuring a collection of 10 artistic human-heart sculptures, throughout December on El Cortez’s Jackie Gaughan Plaza. To celebrate the exhibit’s launch downtown and kickoff El Cortez’s December First Friday activities, El Cortez and members of the local St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will host an unveiling ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m.
Hearts of Las Vegas is a breathtaking exhibit of three-dimensional, five-foot tall heart sculptures crafted by local artists to help bring awareness to the treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening childhood diseases. Each artist created an original design for their hearts, which have each been charitably sponsored by local businesses to help spread awareness and support for the work of St. Jude.
“We are honored to host the first traveling Hearts of Las Vegas exhibit,” said Alexandra Epstein, executive vice president for El Cortez. “This is an amazing program in support of an important cause, and we are proud to be a part of an innovative effort to raise awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
Prior to the formation of the traveling display, the Hearts of Las Vegas were featured individually throughout the streets of Las Vegas. In May 2012, a selection of hearts were auctioned to local individuals at the third annual “Las Vegas Honors St. Jude: An Affair of the Art” event. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the collection benefit the children of St. Jude.
About El Cortez Hotel & Casino
El Cortez Hotel & Casino is the longest continuously operating hotel-casino in Las Vegas and celebrates its 71st year of operation in 2012. The iconic property can be found in historic downtown Las Vegas at 600 East Fremont St. and is the only casino in the city’s burgeoning Fremont East Entertainment District. With 300 newly remodeled hotel rooms, including ten uniquely themed suites that resulted from the 2010-2011 Design A Suite Downtown Contest, El Cortez offers some of the best accommodations in downtown Las Vegas. In May 2009, the property opened the El Cortez Cabana Suites, a 64-room boutique hotel offering vintage South Beach style in the heart of downtown. The El Cortez casino features full-pay 3-2 single deck blackjack, 10 times odds on craps, state-of-the-art roulette and more than 1,000 slot machines. El Cortez also offers a full range of sports betting options and is proudly affiliated with the Station Casinos Sports Book. The Las Vegas Review-Journal voted El Cortez “Best Paying Slots” in 2012, “Best Downtown Hotel” in 2009; “Best Blackjack in Las Vegas” in from 2009-2012; “Best Video Poker” in 2008 and “Best Keno in Las Vegas” from 2008-2012. Dining options at El Cortez include: Café Cortez, The Flame Steakhouse – a vintage favorite among Las Vegas locals – and The Parlour, featuring an exclusive menu of small plates and live entertainment. The property’s other amenities include: Subway featuring Seattle’s Best Coffee, El Cortez Gift Shop, a full-service beauty salon and a barber shop. For more information, please call 1-800-634-6703 or 702-385-5200, or visit http://www.elcortezhotelcasino.com/.
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting www.stjude.org or following us on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.