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Al gives away about $1.5 million to Las Vegas charity

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 prepari
TODAY / Today

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.