Opportunity Village creates magic

Since Thanksgiving Day, as the sun sets, sounds of holiday cheer and laughing children have filled the air and oversized seasonal displays and thousands of holiday lights have illuminated the evening sky at Opportunity Village's Magical Forest, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd.

The annual fundraiser, which benefits Opportunity Village's varied programs for people with disabilities, epitomizes community spirit and volunteerism. The Santa visits, carousel rides, operations of a miniature train, supervision of an oversized slide, music performances, and even the aroma of hot cocoa at the Magical Forest are dependent on thousands of volunteers, dozens of event sponsors and monetary support.

"Over the course of this season, we will have about 150,000 visitors come through the park," said Holly Spoor, resource development director of Opportunity Village. "It is our single largest fundraiser. Last year, it raised just over $1.4 million.

"It takes us about 70 to 90 volunteers per night to operate the park. Sometimes it is a combination of groups, sometimes it is a corporation, so it is a lot of fun. We could not do it without our volunteers," Spoor said, adding that additional helpers are needed to staff the event through Dec. 30.

Those offering support include individuals and companies, including hundreds of people who work in the construction and real estate field such as Rhodes Homes.

"We are members of the Las Vegas community and as such are committed to assisting organizations we believe are critical to helping those in need. For more than 50 years, Opportunity Village has been instrumental to helping those with intellectual disabilities find meaningful work, training, advocacy and social programs," said Glynda Rhodes, vice president of interior and architectural design at Rhodes Homes, an event sponsor.

"Jim (Rhodes, president of Rhodes Homes) and I are committed to helping Las Vegas-based organizations that truly make a difference, and Opportunity Village is a great example of how a community can work together to lift its members up. In addition to monetary donations, our family and employees have donated our time to help make Opportunity Village a better place," Glynda Rhodes said.

In addition to Rhodes Homes, Spoor said, other sponsors from the construction and realty field include the following: American Nevada Co.; Astoria Corp.; Builders Capital Inc.; Cashman Equipment; Concordia Homes; Construction Notebook; DCC Architects; Duke Framing Inc.; First American Title; Gifford Electric; Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers/National Electrical Contractors Association; Klai Juba Architects; Lochsa Engineering; Marnell Corrao; MDL Group; Plise; Poggemeyer Design Group Inc.; Pulte Homes; Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice Program; Terra Contracting; The Korte Co.; and The Plumber Inc. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is also a sponsor.

Spoor said representatives of the following builder and realty groups are volunteering their time as well: Concordia Homes, Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, Martin Harris, the local chapter of Women in Construction, Prudential Americana Real Estate, Pulte Homes, and Storybook Homes.

Over the years, Pulte Homes/Del Webb has assisted the Magical Forest in various ways, from selling raffle tickets to building displays to encouraging volunteerism among employees. Tonight the builder serves as a corporate host.

"We are sponsoring a corporate night on Dec. 22 during which time we will have at least 40 employees volunteering in the forest. We will also be giving away a small gift to the first 200 people who come through the gates," said Sasha Jackowich, public relations manager for Pulte/Del Webb.

"... Opportunity Village is a well-run nonprofit and our employees are dedicated to Opportunity Village and the services they provide. ... It is also fun to get out and to help with a seasonal event."

Acting as a corporate host last week was the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. GLVAR President Devin Reiss said more than a dozen of its members volunteered and about 300 members visited.

"The GLVAR has been a sponsor and has asked members to volunteer before. Our involvement has increased over the years to where we have taken over to sponsoring an entire evening," Reiss said.

In order to volunteer, a group or company does not have to be an official event sponsor. For example, a group of Prudential Americana Real Estate employees helped in early December, according to Jan O'Brien, the realty firm's director of strategic growth.

"We have had anywhere from 50 to 100 people who volunteer from year-to-year. About 50 people volunteered this year. We have fun with it every year and that is one of the ways that we can support Opportunity Village. Sometimes our employees dress up as the mascots, run the train ... we do a little bit of everything," O'Brien said, adding that the firm's six locations contract Opportunity Village to shred documents, another way the nonprofit generates revenue.

Another way community members assist the forest is by supporting the brightly lit displays that incorporate such characters as snowmen, reindeer, teddy bears, penguins, Santa and even a Grinch. American Nevada Co., a developer of Aliante, sponsors an oversized lit "gingerbread house," which remains on the Opportunity Village property throughout the year.

"This is our fourth year doing it. We updated the display last year and created a nice two-story chalet for a gingerbread family to live in. We freshen up the display every year," said Rob Benson, marketing and public relations director of American Nevada.

The event is open from 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 30. General admission tickets are $9 per adult, $7 per child, plus ride tickets. All-inclusive tickets good for unlimited rides cost $14 for adults, $12 for ages 2 to 12.

For more information, visit opportunityvillage.org/content/?c=28.