Ed Guthrie, Executive Director, Opportunity Village

Opportunity Village is one of those rare, magical organizations that combines an equal amount of teamwork, love, hope, respect and care, which together produce some incredible results for all.




Consistently voted "Best Community Organization" by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Oppor-tunity Village just celebrated its 51st birthday on July 7, 2005. The beloved community organization works with people with intellectual disabilities by enhancing their lives and the lives of their families.

Since 1994, Ed Guthrie has served as the non-profit’s executive director. "I have the best job in the world," states Guthrie. "We’ve got a great team and a wonderful staff. Linda Smith and her team do such an incredible job." Smith, the chief development officer of Opportunity Village for the past 27 years, has been instrumental in helping create Opportunity Village’s highly- successful multimillion-dollar fund-raising events and expansion efforts.

Opportunity Village is the largest private provider of vocational training, employment, advocacy and recreation for people with disabilities in the entire state of Nevada. They have two campuses, two work centers and one Thrift Store in Las Vegas.

"We serve about a million meals a year to the airmen out at Nellis Air Force base," Guthrie says proudly. "We operate all their dining facilities. We are the third-largest document destruction firm in Nevada. We are one of the largest packaging houses in Southern Nevada. We supply Harrah’s Corporation with all of their in-room coffee for their hotels nationwide, as well as their condiment packs.
"We are the mail house for the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. We clean over three million square feet of government and commercial space and parking lots. Last year, we were able to pay those folks about $1.5 million dollars in wages. They feel like they are participating in our community and are valued members of our society."

Entertainment superstar Celine Dion has chosen Opportunity Village as her local charity of choice. She fell in love with the organization and donated $1 million from her benefit concert, "Celine Dion, A New Day," live from the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in celebration of their 50th birthday.

In 2004 alone, over 175,000 people enjoyed the annual Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. It comes alive with the celebration of Christmas. From the signature train rides to the beautiful Carousel, Gingerbread House, to the over three million lights, all are amazed by this spectacular winter wonderland, which helps raise money for the various Opportunity Village campuses and programs.

"In 1954, a group of dedicated parents got together and started Opportunity Village. They paved the way. Today, Opportunity Village has successfully saved the Nevada taxpayers well over $1 billion over the past 51 years," beams Guthrie.

How can one help out? Guthrie suggests that all members of the community come to visit them and take a tour of the facilities. See the happy faces creating their button masterpieces, and also meticulously packaging the coffee packs as well as happily sorting and distributing the mail. Experience for yourself firsthand the love, kindness and teamwork that happens each and every day as Opportunity Village helps turn the largest of disabilities into the greatest of abilities.

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