Letter: Opportunity Village thanks community for donations after vicious vandalism

Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998 | 9:28 a.m.

Now the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village is one of the most exciting holiday attractions in North America, thanks to the generosity of this wonderful community. From the donations of the little girl, who walked into my office with a piggy bank, to the exquisite high-tech work contributed by such companies as The Boyd Group, Gifford Electric, Marnell Corrao and Scenic Technologies, to name but a few, the Magical Forest rivals any outdoor holiday event anywhere. All proceeds from the Magical Forest support our programs for people with mental retardation, and the incredible success of this past year's event will give a much-needed shot in the arm to those programs.

Staffed entirely by hundreds of volunteers from area churches, corporations, service clubs, and, of course, the Southern Nevada Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Magical Forest has become a permanent part of the holidays in Las Vegas. A record-breaking 200,000 people visited our Magical Forest this time around. It has become a family tradition for tens of thousands of Southern Nevadans, and it helps us provide a better life for people with disabilities and their families. When a town like this shows its true spirit, everyone wins.

Anyone who thinks Las Vegas is a cold, unfeeling community hasn't seen our Magical Forest. It is a testament to the true heart of Las Vegas. Thank you, Las Vegas, and we hope to see you for many years to come.

Linda Smith Opportunity Village Director of marketing and development