The Holidays Brought a Season of Giving Through Sands Cares

Team Members from The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo volunteered their time and donated items to the community during the fourth annual Season of Giving, through Sands Cares, Las Vegas Sands’ corporate giving program. Las Vegas Sands believes in making its communities better places to live through philanthropic contributions, Team Member volunteerism and in-kind support for local organizations at all of our global properties. Team Members are encouraged and supported to donate their time to various events through the Sands Cares program.

The Season of Giving was kicked off with the Santa Run. 1,750 runners ran in support of Opportunity Village, a non-profit that has been supported for many years by Las Vegas Sands’ Las Vegas properties. Raising a total of $26,250, proceeds will benefit Opportunity Village’s beneficiaries who are intellectually disabled, to enhance their lives and lives of their families. Through vocational training, community employment, day services, the organizations clients are able to realize future career paths and seek independence.

Other events of Season of Giving included HOPE Las Vegas, a large scale outreach event where over 50 Team Members helped to feed 2,186 people a hot turkey meal. Over 5,500 groceries were distributed and over 50 community organizations hosted a kid’s zone, attended by 400 kids and Walgreens was able to give out 300 free flu shots. Another turkey and pie distribution was held at Sherman Gardens, a public housing complex through the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. Low income residents and seniors were given a Thanksgiving meal handed out by the company’s Team Members.

One of the largest events in the community, the KLUC Toy Drive, in its nineteenth year, saw Team Members donate 103 bikes, 2,500 toys, and $2,085 in Team Member donated gift cards. The event lasts for 12 days and is a community-wide event hosted by KLUC’s Chet Buchanan. The event in total contributed 8,109 bikes, $455,550 in cash and gift cards and 32 semi-trucks filled with donations to the local community.

The final event to close out Season of Giving was Festival of Love, a meal service and community event that services low income residents in North Las Vegas held at New Beginnings Ministries. Sands Cares donated all the equipment for the event as well as $5,000 to purchase all the food for beneficiaries. Started in December 2015 by Deangela Clemons, Slots Manager at The Venetian and The Palazzo, this year’s event served 684 people, which included 19 homeless families.

“We welcome the guests into the event and they are seated by a host and then they are served dinner and refreshments,” Clemons said. “After they eat, they are invited to receive a haircut, partake in any of the donations provided which include clothes, toys, and shoes. There are family photos with Santa, bounce houses for the kids, and music. We have services provided by Job Corp, Help of Southern Nevada and Three Square. I’m just so grateful to be able to volunteer and serve my community. It is an honor that the company has such great values and gives to those in need. I work with a giving team who not only gives resources during the Season of Giving, but most importantly, they give their time.”