Everybody sees Las Vegas as party central, but what they don’t know is that it’s one of the most resilient and resourceful cities on the planet.
Las Vegas is so much more than what most people think it to be. Yes, it’s one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. But what most tourists are not aware of is that Las Vegans have overcome many adversities and the city is truly self sufficient.
Visitors to the Strip see the bright lights and hear the slot machines, but what they don’t realize is that Las Vegas Boulevard alone employs roughly 150,000 workers. Due to the current health issue these people are out of work.
Always there to support their employees, MGM Resorts International put in place years ago an Emergency Employees Grant Fund to benefit their workers in times of need for things such as medical bills, utilities, rent, etc. It hasn’t been needed too much until now. The fund provides employees and their immediate families with short-term relief in making payments or to meet obligations during unexpected hardships and emergencies.
It was designed to assist those impacted by events such as the coronavirus, including full-time employees, on-call employees and those facing layoff, separation or furlough.
Resident headliner Bruno Mars donated $1 million to the fund and sparked a blaze that spread like a wildfire. David Copperfield, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Kathleen Madigan, David Spade, Boyz II Men, Brad Garrett, Carrot Top, Terry Fator, Ray Romano, Jabbawockeez, Shin Lim, Thunder from Down Under, Hans Klok, Australian Bee Gees, Fantasy, and Bill Blumenreich Presents each showed their support for the MGM Resorts family with a donation to the fund.
MGM Resorts Acting CEO and President, Bill Hornbuckle said of the generosity, “With donations from this extraordinary lineup of entertainers, commitments from MGM Resorts and its leadership team, our own employees, and a number of other generous contributions, we have already raised approximately $11 million to assist our employees during this time of unprecedented challenges and hardship.”
George Kliavkoff, MGM’s President of Entertainment and Sports, said: “The folks that work together on the Strip are friends, but we consider them family and want to get them back to work, healthy and sound, while following all medical guidelines.”
With the Strip dark, this leaves all of our entertainers sidelined as well. However, charitable variety show, Mondays Dark, will partner with The Actors Fund, to raise funds for the Las Vegas entertainment community through a telethon event held from 5-11 p.m. PST on Monday, April 27.
Las Vegas residents and communities across the country are invited to enjoy a night of entertainment, starring both local Las Vegas entertainers and nationally recognized headliners, including Brad Garrett, Joey Fatone (‘NSync), Dot Marie Jones (Glee), Jon Taffer (Bar Rescue), Clint Holmes, John Di Domenico, cast members from Cirque du Soleil, and others, with a complete lineup coming soon.
The star-studded performances will be broadcast free of charge on the Mondays Dark website and all their social platforms.
In an effort to provide relief to Las Vegas actors, dancers, musicians, crew members, whose shows have been cancelled amid the coronavirus epidemic, Mondays Dark will donate 100 percent of funds raised to the local entertainment community through The Actors Fund. Those interested in donating may visit www.mondaysdark.com.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with an amazing organization that does so much for the entertainment community,” said Mark Shunock, entertainer and creator of Mondays Dark. “Whether you work backstage, in wardrobe, dance, sing, or act, The Actors Fund can help you.”
The Las Vegas entertainment community seeking assistance are encouraged to visit The Actors Fund website at www.theactorsfund.org. To stream the live event, visit www.mondaysdark.com or follow any of the Mondays Dark social media platforms.