Jabbawockeez, THE LION KING, Vinny and KA Share Toys and Laughs to KLUC's Annual Toy Drive and HELP of Southern Nevada





Photos by Momentum, MGM Resorts International With Chet Buchanan having already passed his goals for KLUC’s Annual Toy Drive, everyone was in good spirits—or shall we say, holiday spirits—as the giving still continued with visits from more MGM Resort entertainers today. Delivering the ninth van-ful of toys donated by more than 50,000 MGM Resorts International employees were Monte Carlo’s Jabbawockeez, Buyi Zama “Rafiki” from Disney’s THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay, cast members from KA at MGM Grand, and the face of New York-New York, Vinny.

The best part was the entertainers’ reactions as they opened the overflowing van and toys spilled out: Vinny provided a song-and-dance ta-da, performers from KA by Cirque du Soleil squealed in delighted “Cirque-speak”, and Buyi from THE LION KING giggled as she watched the Jabbawockeez try to catch the tumbling toys before they hit the ground. More than 1,000 bikes and a 30-foot-tall platform set the stage for some playful unloading.

From atop his own “Pride Rock,” Chet chatted with Buyi as they watched Jabbawockeez zip around on bikes not quite their size (hence the streamers on the handlebars). KLUC DJ Bojo got into an impromptu dance-off with the KA performers and, as he said it on-air, “got served.”

Through the KLUC Toy Drive alone, more than 10,000 struggling families will receive toys at the HELP of Southern Nevada toy pantry. MGM Resorts employees are going beyond simply donating toys with Mandalay Bay and Excalibur staff donating their time as volunteers at the toy pantry. MGM Resorts International increases their charitable efforts during the holidays to benefit struggling community members when they need it most. It’s just one small part of the corporation’s total philanthropic efforts. The MGM Resorts Foundation, supported by dollars from employee salaries, has raised $4.8 million for the community this year alone.