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Meet Your Neighbor: Alexandria & Anthony Pearl
By Callie Thomas
“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne
What do you get when you combine a high-powered general counsel for one of the newest mega resorts on the Las Vegas Strip with a wife and mother whose day consists of school, neighborhood and charitable events? You get residents Alexandria and Anthony Pearl, the epitome of “busy.” Yet, they seem to do it with style and a passion that extends beyond themselves and towards helping others, particularly children in our community. “We’re no different than anyone else in that we and our children are sometimes guilty of taking everything we have for granted, but we try very hard to remember where we came from, how lucky we are and how important it is to give back,” Anthony said.
Anthony is the general counsel for the Cosmopolitan Resort Casino and a Board Member of the Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, while Alexandria (Alex) not only juggles the lives of their two children but is the co-chair of the charity’s annual Heart n’ Sole event. “Everywhere we’ve lived, we do our best to get involved in local charities,” says Alex. “We seem to gravitate to organizations that support children’s causes, both because we have two wonderful, beautiful, boys of our own and because we want our children to have some understanding and appreciation of how tough it is out there for so many kids.” The Goodie Two Shoes Foundation (GTSF) was exactly the type of organization where the Pearls could feel like they were making a difference.
The nonprofit organization provides disadvantaged children and children in crisis from newborn to age 21 with new shoes and socks as well as other essential items for good health and positive development. In many cases this is the first pair of new shoes these children have ever received. Goodie Two Shoes doesn’t stop at just providing a child with a new pair of shoes; they measure their feet to ensure proper fit and they pair each child with their own community volunteer who walks them through the process. Every child is given the ultimate attention and they are empowered to select any pair of shoes from a large inventory of high-quality athletic shoes, just like the ones their friends at school are wearing.
“Perhaps the most poignant experiences we have are when we encounter kids who aren’t able to attend school every day because they have to share a single pair of shoes with their siblings, or whose feet are cramped into shoes that are three sizes too small,” says Alex.
In an effort to raise funds to help more children receive appropriate footwear, Alex has been busy helping to plan the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The Third Annual Evening of Heart n’ Sole takes place on June 4th at the M Hotel and Resort. This is not your typical charitable affair. It’s a totally fun event held both in and outdoors by the pool with fabulous food, lively libations, live entertainment, silent and live auctions and one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Plus, the dress code is fashionably casual.
The Pearls can also be found volunteering their time to other outreach programs through the GTSF, including distribution events, Rockin’ Walk and the Charley Hoffman Pro Am Tournament which also benefits other charitable groups in the valley.
Giving back to the community is important to the Pearls, not just because it makes them feel good to volunteer. “We both recognize how fortunate we are to live in this great environment and be able to provide a great life for our family, but we also know that there are many others struggling to support their families. We are proud to give back, because it’s just the right thing to do.” For additional information on the Heart n’ Sole event, visit www.goodietwoshoes.org.
