Each year, Vegas magazine and Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo partner to identify and celebrate women of Las Vegas who are making incredible contributions to worthy causes in the city. Our honorees for 2016 not only have a personal connection to the organizations for which they do so much good, but most are natural extensions of their daily lives and professions. Our annual Vegas Gives event, held at the Grand Canal shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo—this year on November 15—pays tribute to nine powerful women.
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Lauri Thompson
Nevada Ballet Theatre
As secretary of the board of trustees for Nevada Ballet Theatre, Lauri Thompson has an insider understanding of the long-running company. But her relationship with NBT goes much deeper. The shareholder attorney at Greenberg Traurig originally moved to Las Vegas in 1980 as a ballet dancer and spent two years performing with the company. Today, Thompson is less focused on pointed toes and pirouettes and more excited about the company’s outreach to local students through the in-school Future Dance program. “They develop self-esteem, a strong work ethic. Dance isn’t just about succeeding at dance,” Thompson says.