Kick Up Your (High) Heels for a Great Cause!

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  On December 3, hundreds of women will have the chance to strap on a pair of high heels and run for a good cause.  The Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Stiletto Dash presented by The Palazzo Las Vegas will be hosted by Dancing with the Stars host Brooke Burke and held inside of The Palazzo, the day before the Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111110/CL04165)

"The Stiletto Dash is perfect for Las Vegas, a city known for its fun indulgence, and it is just a great way to kick off the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon weekend," says Peter Englehart, CEO of Competitor Group. "We're thrilled to have Brooke Burke host the event and appreciate her support in helping us raise much-needed funds for these two worthwhile charities."

The first ever Rock 'n' Roll Stiletto Dash will benefit two charities: the local Las Vegas-based Opportunity Village, a not-for-profit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities, and Operation Smile, a nonprofit that treats facial deformities such as cleft lips and palates worldwide.

"We are excited to partner with Competitor Group and look forward to Brooke Burke hosting the first ever Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Stiletto Dash," said John Caparella, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo. "This brings a unique and really fun opportunity for our guests to dash through our casino while benefiting two worthy causes."

Starting at 5:00 p.m., the 50-yard dash will begin at the luxurious grand lobby of The Palazzo and finish in the casino near Laguna Champagne Bar.  Close to 500 participants are expected, decked out in fabulous outfits to complement their heels, competing in multiple heats for a $5,000 first-place purse and other exciting prizes.   Each participant will receive an exclusive gift bag and invited to attend a post-dash party.  

The Rock 'n' Roll Stiletto Dash will kick off the largest nighttime running event in the world, the Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon to benefit the Chron's & Colitis Foundation, taking place on Sunday, December 4^th.  Starting and finishing at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the Marathon will begin at 4:00 p.m., with the Half Marathon starting at 5:30 p.m.  A full course description of each race, including a full course map, can be found at StripatNight.com. Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo, presented by Power Balance, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, on December 2-3.  The expo is free and open to the public and features more than 60 exhibitors showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health & nutritional information and much more.

For further information, please visit StripatNight.com or Competitor.com.

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE

Opportunity Village was founded in 1954 by seven families who were determined to give their disabled children the best lives possible.  Fifty Seven years later, Opportunity Village is one of the most recognized habilitation organizations in the country. It serves 1,700+ families daily and is Nevada's largest employer of people with disabilities. Opportunity Village is primarily a self-funded organization and does not depend upon state and federal dollars. Rather, through its contracts and fundraising, it relies on its own resourcefulness. Opportunity Village is responsible for saving Nevada taxpayers $22 million every year and pays over $4 million in wages to people who are considered to be unemployable. In addition, Opportunity Village places many individuals into community jobs where, in 2010, they collectively earned wages amounting to more than $6 million.  

ABOUT OPERATION SMILE

Every three minutes, it is estimated that a child is born with a cleft condition. One in 10 children born with a cleft will die before their first birthday. Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children's medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries, whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 76 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 2 million healthcare evaluations and conducted over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, as well as patients suffering from burns. To build long-term self-sufficiency in developing countries, Operation Smile donates medical equipment, provides year-round medical treatment through Comprehensive Care Centers, and trains local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their own local communities. For more information, please visit www.operationsmile.org.

ABOUT THE PALAZZO LAS VEGAS®

With more than 3,000 spacious suites, luxury shopping ,world-class dining and entertainment, the $1.9 billion, Silver LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified Palazzo Las Vegas literally takes luxury to new heights.  Ranked as one of the top 25 hotels in the U.S. and Canada in Travel + Leisure "World's Best Awards" for two consecutive years, the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Four Star-Award winning resort is highlighted by a flagship 85,000-square-foot Barneys New York.  The Shoppes at The Palazzo feature more than 60 luxury boutiques, including 20 remarkable stores and couture brands making their Las Vegas debuts at The Palazzo including Chloe, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Van Cleef & Arpels, Catherine Malandrino and Anya Hindmarch.  The all-suite resort offers plush and opulent suite accommodations ranging from a Luxury Suite at an unprecedented 720 square feet to the 8,000-square-foot Chairman suite with private terraces and plunge pools.  The Palazzo also offers a variety of cuisines from a collection of award-winning chefs such as Carnevino by Mario Batali, CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Table 10 by Emeril Lagasse. Other unique offerings include the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Jersey Boys;"  the chic dining and nightlife hotspot, LAVO; the world's largest Canyon Ranch SpaClub; the ultimate sports bar, sportsbook and restaurant on the Strip, Lagasse's Stadium; and Prestige at The Palazzo – an exclusive space designed to offer the sophisticated traveler an elevated level of services and amenities including private champagne check in, packing and unpacking services, exclusive bath and pillow menus, complimentary cocktail reception and more. Guests can earn points while they eat, sleep, shop and play with Grazie, the premiere loyalty program, which rewards guests with the ease and usability of just one card and one program. The Palazzo and its famed sister resort, The Venetian Las Vegas, are the first ever Alliance Resorts in the InterContinental Hotel Group global portfolio. For additional information, visit The Palazzo website at palazzolasvegas.com, follow on Twitter @palazzolasvegas and interact on Facebook at facebook.com/palazzolasvegas.

SOURCE Competitor Group