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.
