Vegas superstars give back during the holidays, all year long

The holiday season is all about giving, but many Las Vegas headliners share their generous spirit with others year-round.

One of Vegas’ most philanthropic casts is Luxor’s female revue “Fantasy,” who have worked with many charities over the past decade. The women donate a portion of their calendar sales to a worthwhile cause, with proceeds from 2018’s edition going to the Nevada SPCA.

Magician Mat Franco is another outspoken advocate for animals, working closely with both the Nevada SPCA and The Animal Foundation. In celebration of his show’s anniversary at the Linq Hotel and Casino, Franco partnered with Petco to sponsor a pet supply driv e to benefit the Animal Foundation, collecting more than $13,000 in supplies and gift cards. Franco isn’t the only magician making magic happen offstage, either.

Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino headliners Penn & Teller have been the Grand Marshals of the annual Nevada AIDS Walk since 2001 and began the Penn & Teller Challenge in 2003, which has matched more than $1 million in donations for their walk team. The duo also hosts United Blood Services’ largest annual blood drive, Penn & Teller’s 13 Bloody Days of Christmas, giving two show tickets to everyone who donates.

Their appearances on shows like “Celebrity Apprentice” supported local nonprofit Opportunity Village, with more than $1 million going to help people with intellectual disabilities.

Luxor illusionist Criss Angel has his own charity, the Johnny Crisstopher Children’s Charitable Foundation, which donates to various pediatric cancer research facilities. The cause is especially dear to Angel, as his son, Johnny Crisstopher, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2015.

Ventriloquist Terry Fator recently launched his own charity, the Terry Fator Foundation, supporting military organizations, the Arthritis Foundation and more. A longtime suppor ter of the military, 100% of the profits from Fator’s merchandise sales benefit military charities.

Backstreet Boys donate $1 from every ticket sold from their residency to the Boy s & Girls Club of Southern Nevada. Cirque du Soleil’s annual One Night for One Drop benefit helps ensure that safe water is accessible to all. It’s benevolent acts like these that make countless Las Vegas headliners real stars.

-Heather Turk, Custom Publishing Writer