Goodwill Partners with Meow Wolf Las Vegas to Unveil an E-Waste Sculpture at Electronic Donation Drive at AREA15
Goodwill and Meow Wolf celebrate International E-Waste Awareness Day with electronic donation drive
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 6, 2021) – Goodwill of Southern Nevada (Goodwill®) and Meow Wolf Las Vegas have partnered to host an event that raises awareness on the importance of donating electronics responsibly. In honor of International E-Waste Day, the event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of AREA15 located at 3215 South Rancho Drive. The event will include an electronics donation drive and the unveiling of a one-of-a-kind desert tortoise e-waste sculpture crafted by local artist Luis Valera-Rico.
“Goodwill of Southern Nevada is thrilled to be partners in an event that inspires creativity within our community and serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of recycling electronics responsibly,” said Richard (“Rick”) D. Neal, Jr., president and CEO of Goodwill of Southern Nevada. “Year to date, Goodwill retail stores across Southern Nevada have sold 1.68 million electronic items and have recycled 236,670 pounds of e-waste, keeping them away from landfills and reducing the hazard they pose to the environment.”
The sculpture made of donated electronics is one of several projects Valera-Rico has on display throughout Southern Nevada. “This project speaks to me because I am conscious of how human convenience is damaging our planet in irreparable ways,” said Luis Varela-Rico.
“Meow Wolf remains committed to our mission of fostering community and supporting emerging artists,” said Christy Sakamoto, Program & Outreach Manager for Meow Wolf Las Vegas. “We are thrilled to partner with Goodwill through this initiative that guides e-waste out of landfills and repurposes it in an impactful and artful way.”
The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 estimates that electronic waste will reach 74 metric tons globally by 2030, making it the fastest growing domestic waste stream on the planet. The need to educate consumers on donating electronics responsibly has never been more urgent. Goodwill is proud to partner with Meow Wolf to celebrate International E-Waste Day and be part of the solution.
Goodwill accepts electronic donations and all other donations at 17 retail stores and five attended donation centers throughout the valley.
About Goodwill of Southern Nevada
Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada Inc. (Goodwill®) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Goodwill is an innovative and sustainable social enterprise offering free career coaching, job placement, training programs and education assistance for local employers in Southern Nevada. Goodwill operates two Career Centers and offers a Mobile Career Coach with community-based programs funded through the support of philanthropic giving, government grants and by selling donated clothing and household items in 17 stores and online.
About Luis Valera-Rico
Luis Varela-Rico is a Mexican-American artist in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Luis’ art is deeply rooted in his Mexican heritage. Although formally educated at the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Luis draws his inspiration from his professional experience as an elevator technician and the unique landscape of Las Vegas. Applying his knowledge of machinery, CNC, welding and CAD design, Luis has created a number of highly acclaimed public art projects in Southern Nevada as well as private commissions across the United States. In 2021 Luis was featured as a participant in the first season of the Netflix original show Metal Shop Masters.
About Meow Wolf
Recognized in Fast Company’s 2020 list of The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company’s first location in Santa Fe opened in 2016 and showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation House of Eternal Return, where two million visitors have now discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and surreal, maximalist and mesmerizing art exhibits. In 2019, Meow Wolf expanded beyond Santa Fe and opened Kaleidoscape, the world’s first artist-driven ride at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Meow Wolf has expanded to Las Vegas at AREA15 with their second permanent installation, Omega Mart, and recently to Denver with Convergence Station, both now open. Meow Wolf is proud to be the only certified B-Corporation in the themed entertainment industry with a team dedicated to social impact and building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
About AREA15
AREA15, located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, is the world’s first purpose-built experiential entertainment district offering live events, immersive activations, monumental art installations, extraordinary design elements, unique retail, ground-breaking technology, bars and eateries and much more. With a growing collection of dynamic destinations including Dueling Axes, Emporium Arcade Bar, Lost Spirits Distillery, Oddwood Bar, “Wink World: Portals Into The Infinite,” Museum Fiasco, Rocket Fizz, Five Iron Golf, The Beast by Todd English, OZ Experience, Virtualis VR and anchor experience, Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, AREA15 is an ever-changing art, retail and entertainment district attracting locals and tourists of all ages.