Promote Inclusion.

Las Vegas- On Thursday November 10th, 2022 the C4C Team embarked on the exciting adventure of covering their first red carpet event together.. and so much more.

About a month prior to the event Daryll Borges, the Performing Arts and Music Supervisor @ Opportunity Village approached Creation 4 Cause’s Creative Director Anise L. Labrum and C4C Media’s Director of Technology Mike about producing a short introduction video for three of OV’s artists selected to design artistic creations for their Camelot Gala live art auction.  

The honor couldn‘t have been bigger for the C4C team. Their dream was unfolding right before them and almost as quickly as they threw it out there. Whoa!  So cool.

It‘s interesting how things line up so perfectly in life.  Just as the team’s dreams were unfolding in front them, this was to be the theme behind what Opportunity Village and the Camelot Auction Gala was all about.  Helping others achieve their dreams! 

Literally named “The Grandest Gala of Them All!” by The Las Vegas Review Journal, Camelot @ The Magical Forest raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support crucial programs and beneficial services for thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Southern Nevada.

This year OV for Camelot and The Magical Forest honored the COX organization. For over three decades COX has partnered together with OV to serve on their Board of Directors, be a volunteer work force and serve as an outstanding business and development partner to both the community, as well as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Bob Brown, President and CEO of Opportunity Village personally addressed the hard work and community dedication of COX in the evening’s Camelot 2022 program, focusing on the many years of service and dedication to individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

Brown stated how COX has helped “expand employment training and initiated a social enterprise to sort, clean, test and package remote controls and wires/cables for COX’s Nevada operations, as well as operations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas & Idaho. Their investment to steward the lives of people with disabilities has been overwhelmingly successful. Together we created organizational sustainability while propelling those we serve towards independence.“ 

Brown also added “we are humbled by your dedication and thrilled to honor you! Thank you for all that you do!“

When C4C team members Anise, Mike, Rylee and Alejandro first arrived on the scene of the event roughly around 3pm earlier that afternoon they were already dressed for success and ready for whatever was to be thrown their way. 

The crew looked around in awe at the beautiful set up of The Magical Forest and Camelot display.  They knew they belonged right where they were.  This was where they wanted and needed to be.  Creating multi-media projects in order to help others find their dreams and talents is what C4C is all about. 

Over the past three weeks leading up to the OV Camelot Auction Gala @ The Magical Forest, Anise & Mike had gone back and forth to Opportunity Village‘s Performing and Fine Arts Department filming and interviewing OV artists Jeziel G., Daniel C., and Kaitlyn M. about the guitars they were painting and the history behind them.

The three enthusiastic artists were excited to be adding their individual and unique touches to three acoustic guitars all donated by legendary guitarist Carlos Santana himself!

Each artist spent hours working and finalizing their designs days before the auction was to be held and the excitement was very apparent in the room as the C4C team filmed the final touches before going into editing for the video introduction. 

Now it was the day they all had been working for.  It was “let’s show them what we do” day!

As Rylee and Anise waited at the back entrance of Camelot’s Magical Forest to be led to the conference rooms so they could set up the hair and makeup for the performers later that evening, Mike and Alejandro prepared the camera and sound equipment for the red carpet interviews with OV Brand Ambassador Vanessa S. at the front entrance.

As Anise got the performers glammed up, Rylee assisted with commentary on hair and lipstick color direction. 

“It is so great and rewarding to be able to offer hair and makeup services to the performers.  It’s always been something I enjoy doing for people, watching the joy on their faces as they look in the mirror at the new glammed-up version of themselves.  It’s fun and so emotionally satisfying making others feel good!  I love that I’m getting the chance to make all this my career!”, says Anise. “All while helping others live out their dreams too? Heck yeah!”

Once Anise and Rylee finished up, they joined Alejandro for a quick photo op on the red carpet before meeting up with Mike to help film and cover the night’s events. 

As Rylee confidently walked into the Gala Ballroom, her eyes widened with awe and pure delight in wonderment, as she observed the exquisitely detailed Ballroom with its sequined-clothed tables and enchanting guests.

Setting the incredible rhythm of the evening, The Moonshiners, with their unique "Prohibition Pop", was a perfect addition of contemporary pop songs, “mashed up with swinging beats from the late 1920’s.”

The band took the stage to entertain the guests and keep the night moving along in perfect harmonious fashion coinciding with the evening’s planned out events .

As Anise took over the camera duties placed upon Alejandro earlier in the day, Mike made his way to the back of the Ballroom to film the wide perspective of the night.  

Meanwhile, Miss Rylee got spoiled with a three course meal and private table for two with Alejandro. 

Uh..Who said that was fair? LOL!

As the night continued on, the evening seemed to get under way when the OV Clappers joined The Moonshiners on stage for a toe-tapping, fringe-swinging good time showing off their dance moves and appreciation for the program and audience attendees. 

Proceeding the dance performance Stacy Ostrau, Vice President of Philanthropy for Opportunity Village elegantly took the stage to kick off the evening‘s events.

Ostrau made it a point to thank everyone for attending.

Chet Buchanan, host of 98.5 KLUC‘s The Chet Buchanan Show was then introduced to the audience. 

Chet, with his quick wit and showman charm, proceeded to introduce the series of short videos produced to educate and inform attendees on the programs and services OV offers, including workforce development, community employment, day services, inclusive housing, arts and social recreation. 

Once the videos were over, it was time to start the Live Art Auction part of the evening.  This was the moment of the night the whole team had been waiting for. 

The video they produced of the artists and their guitars was going to be shown right before the Live Art auction started! 

This was very exciting for Creation 4 Cause to be part of such an epic and honorable event, but it was even more important for C4C’s Mike, for this was a moment he was going to remember for years to come. 

Not only had Mike spent countless hours editing the video to fit the joyful narrative planned and projected, but it was the first time in his professional career seeing his hard work displayed on the big screen.. and at such a major event as Opportunity Village’s Camelot Auction Gala @The Magical Forest!

”It was really incredible to see and even more incredible to have that feeling of making my dreams come true watching the warm reactions from everyone.  I’m making my own personal dreams come true, as we’re helping other‘s dreams come true simultaneously. It’s Crazy.”, states Mike.

Once the video presentation was over, Auctioneer Christian Kolberg was introduced by Chet Buchanan and the auction began. 

Starting the bid on the guitars at $2k, the energy in the room began to raise with the audience‘s excitement and anticipation.

As the bidding price quickly increased to $12k, all three guitars eventually sold for a whopping $50k to World Champion Las Vegas Aces and Raiders owner Mark Davis. 

The energy was incredible and the feeling that the C4C team actually got to be a part of something bigger buzzed them up the rest of the evening. 

Just as the night couldn’t get any more incredible and heartfelt for Anise, Mike, Alejandro and Miss Rylee, Daryll Borges came up and proudly introduced the team to the woman that started it all, Linda Smith. 

Mrs. Smith helped raise over half a billion dollars for Opportunity Village from 1978 through 2016.  With 38 years as OV’s Chief Fundraiser and public ambassador, she helped build the organization from the ground up due to her passion and dedication as a mother whose son, Christopher, also had Down Syndrome. 

The team was so honored by the introduction as Linda listened to their stories and understood their passion for why they personally believe in the importance of volunteering and helping others.

Proceeding the introduction, the team followed the crowd out of the ballroom and back into the main lobby where a beautiful cocktail service bar was set up for guests to now let loose and get their boogie on. 

The Moonshiner’s picked up the beat almost seamlessly where they left off.

Joining Rylee on the dance floor, Anise couldn’t help but smile and giggle at the adorable dance team as she rounded the corner with the camera and rig.

Rylee was embraced in a boogie down moment with OV supporter and M.J. Christianson Diamond Owner Cliff Miller. 

As the two “shook what their momma’s gave them”, the surrounding guests observing danced around the duo.

Rylee, remaining true to her rockstar charm and image, finished up her dance with Mr. Miller. 

This was just before settling down and in between her new lovely lady friends, who she collected fashion approvals and exchanged business cards with. 

The evening was just as stunning as the crowd of people attending the event. 

There was something magical in the air.  It was the feeling that there was a much deeper change happening in front of everyone and the energy was very alive and present.  We knew our time had come and so did the people around us that we were now blessed to work with. 

The light has been growing for quite some time in us all and the universe was right on time as usual bringing us all together to work and grow our goals and aspirations as one.  Let the future begin! 

Packing up the equipment and organizing the makeup kit, the C4C team hugged everyone goodbye and proceeded to find Daryll Borges, who they truly wanted to thank for bringing them onboard and into such an incredible world and Opportunity… Village. 

As the night ended, the whole experience brought about the sense of equality and that there was hope and change in the air. 

As much as the team didn’t want to leave and go home that night, they knew it was time to wrap up and head out. 

They also knew they would be back and it was going to be just the beginning of something incredible. 

For information on Opportunity Village and how you can get involved please check out https://www.opportunityvillage.org/