For many who live here, Las Vegas is a city down on its luck. Strip resorts have lost more than $6 billion over the last two years and unemployment is hovering around 10 percent.
Al traveled to the recession-battered area to Lend a Hand with about $1.5 million in donations to a charity trying to put people back to work: The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas.
This non-profit organization is preparing workers for employment in the gaming and hospitality industry, providing them a better life through training, education and providing hope.
Find out more about The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas here.
Watch the segment below to see the organization's leaders' reactions to the donations and to learn more about the deserving charity.
Total Lend a Hand Day 2 donation tally: $1,480,247
List of donors:
2(x)ist Men's Underwear
ACTIVATE Drinks
Aprica®
Bacardi®
Beech-Nut
Bleach Safe Home
Columbia Sportswear Company
The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas
Cuisinart / Waring
Deleon Tequila
Essence Cosmetics
Frigidaire
Glidden Paint
Good Neighbor Pharmacy
Hennessy
Illes Seasoning & Flavors
Jordache Enterprises
Kiehl's Since 1851
Malt-O-Meal
Mgm Resorts International
Mighty Milk
Mionetto
Paula Deen Furniture By Universal Furniture
Paula Deen, Smithfield And The United Food And Commercial Workers
The Penn & Teller Show At The Rio
Penske Truck Rental
Perini / Penta Builders
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular
Plackers
Royal Talent
Sam Adams
Sara Lee, Jimmy Deen, Ball Park And Hillshire Farms
Slim Jim
Stanley Black And Decker
Todd English
Toyota / 100 Cars For Good
Tyson
United Airlines
Yocrunch Yogurt
Zappos.com
If you are a United Mileage Plus member or a Continental OnePass member, donate airline miles and money to The Culinanry Academy of Las Vegas by clicking the links on the corresponding programs.
Penn and Teller helped Al out this morning -- you can watch their appearance in the video below. Want to help out yourself? Let us know here and a TODAY producer may contact you.
Check out the record-breaking first day of Lend a Hand in Alaska.