The staffs of XS and Tryst Nightclubs gathered Wednesday morning for their eighth annual donation to KLUC Morning Zoo’s toy drive. This year’s $190,698 in toys is the largest donation from a single group to a toy drive anywhere in the country. Today’s contribution broke the clubs’ previous record, which is raised through tips and personal contributions from the staff throughout the year.
At 10 a.m. this morning, more than 200 staff filled the aisles of Wal-Mart to fill carts with something for every kid. Staff made multiple trips between the toy department and checkout with carts piled high. In addition to toys, every single bike available in Wal-Mart, 250 total, was purchased for the drive. Following the shopping spree, store shelves were left empty as the staff posed for a photo with the carts spelling out XS in the parking lot.
Six semi-trucks led the way to the donation site where Chet Buchanan, host of KLUC’s Morning Zoo radio program, and the team at HELP of Southern Nevada eagerly awaited. The semis, which were escorted by several police cars, created a mini traffic jam in the process as passersby stopped to get out of their vehicles and peek at the donation. Once onsite, the traditional receipt unveiling stretched from the top of the platform down through the parking lot.
The executives from the nightclubs including managing partner Jesse Waits, senior executive director of VIP services John Wood, executive director of nightlife marketing Ronn Nicolli, and executive director of nightlife operations Yannick Mugnier did the honors of closing the 12th truck for the toy drive.
The toy drive, in its 15th year, is organized by Chet Buchanan, host of 98.5 KLUC’s Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo, where he lives atop a 30-foot high scaffolding 24 hours a day for 12 straight days raising awareness about the less fortunate kids and families. All toys donated go to HELP of Southern Nevada in their mission to “assist individual and families to become self sufficient through direct services training and referral.” Last year’s donation from the nightclubs totaled $172,000 in toys, making the total donation to date now more than $700,000 over eight years.
Click on the photos below to enlarge.
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