El Cortez Hotel & Casino and The Las Vegas Chapter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Launch the First Traveling Hearts of Las Vegas Collection
On Thursday afternoon, El Cortez Hotel & Casino Executive Vice President Alexandra Epstein and representatives from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dorit Schwartz and Lainie Strouse, unveiled the first traveling Hearts of Las Vegascollection at El Cortez’s Jackie Gaughan Plaza.
The 10 artistic human-heart sculptures have been crafted by local artists and will remain on display in the Jackie Gaughan Plaza for the next two months. The exhibit will not only act as a breathtaking art installation, but it will also help bring awareness to the work of St. Jude and their continued support for the treatment of childhood cancer and other life-threatening childhood diseases.
After thanking the representatives of St. Jude for bestowing this honor upon El Cortez, Epstein introduced Schwartz and Strouse, who each offered an encouraging message of hope and gracious support while sharing St. Jude’s mission. Having the opportunity to use an innovative platform such as the Hearts of Las Vegas has allowed St. Jude to spread their message the local community.
To conclude the unveiling ceremony, Schwartz and Strouse gifted Epstein and El Cortez with a heart sculpture to remain permanently on the Jackie Gaughan Plaza.
Prior to the formation of the traveling display, the Hearts of Las Vegas were featured individually throughout the streets of Las Vegas. In May 2012, a selection of hearts were auctioned to local individuals at the third annual “Las Vegas Honors St. Jude: An Affair of the Art” event. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the collection benefited the children of St. Jude.
Credit: J. Rick Martin
