Notoriety Gives

Supporting At-Risk Youth Through the Healing Power of the Arts

By Chanelle Hayes / Photography courtesy of Notoriety Gives

Ken Henderson, a Las Vegas native and co-owner/CEO of BESTAgency, embarked on a philanthropic journey after the resounding success of the 1 October Vegas Cares benefit concert in 2017.

“Vegas Cares was a phenomenal event,” he said. “We had singer-songwriter Jewel perform, as well as many local performers and entertainers. We raised a little under $100,000. We planned to build a memorial with the funds, but Robin Leach, who also helped me with the event, suggested I donate it to the Vegas Strong Fund, but they had already raised $21 million. So, we went back and forth on what to do with the funds. Eventually, all involved with the help of Brittany Dupree, we came up with the idea to support the arts with it.”

In 2018, Neonopolis building owners Loraine Kusuhara and Rohit Joshi allowed Henderson to pursue his long-time dream. In 2019, he opened Notoriety, a premier performing arts venue in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Shortly after, he formed the nonprofit organization Notoriety Gives. “I wanted Notoriety Gives to commemorate the resiliency and compassion of the Las Vegas community and showcase unity through the arts,” he said.

Henderson hired a consultant to help him develop an idea on how to make his vision come to life. In the beginning, “We began offering two classes for at-risk youth in grades 5-12,” he said. “Michael Shapiro taught a guitar class and Clint Holmes taught a songwriting class. We had youth from local programs, such as the Boys & Girls Club, come down to Notoriety to participate in our program. It was a great program but very challenging logistically, so we moved in a new direction and started a charity fund to offer scholarships and access to existing performing arts programs in Las Vegas.”

Henderson and the Notoriety Gives’ board of directors (Antonio Fargas, actor; Clint Holmes, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter; Greg Errico, founding member of Sly and the Family Stone; Gwyn Lloyd-Hughes, senior vice president of BESTAgency; Kurt Ouchida, president/co-founder of Braintrust; Lorraine D’Alessio, attorney; Michael E. Seiff, MD; Michael Shapiro, Richard Burgi, actor; Ross King MBE, TV presenter, actor and writer; and Tracee Gress, partner of BD & Associates, CPAs) launched Concerts for a Cause, a monthly series designed to unite the community through music and philanthropy.

This initiative has brought the community together and provided a platform for talented musicians to showcase their skills. It has also allowed at-risk youth to experience the healing power of music and the arts, significantly impacting their lives and aspirations.

“Our first event with Clint Holmes was great,” Henderson said. “He performed songs from his favorite artists and some of his original music. I wanted him to do the first event because he has been a huge supporter of everything I do and a long-time friend. He always tells me, ‘Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.'”

Just like with the Vegas Cares benefit concert, Henderson has once again utilized his entertainment talents and connections for a good cause. “It feels good to know that the Las Vegas community wants to help,” he said.

“If you have heard Clint’s story, he will say he wouldn’t know where he would be without music. He just knew that music was what he was supposed to do. That’s the thing with people in this business. They’re very passionate about what they do. We’re giving them a beautiful platform to perform at and letting people who love concerts see musicians they might not have seen before. It’s also about giving back to the young people who want to take that journey and make it in the entertainment industry. Putting together this concert series has been fun, and it’s in the wheelhouse of what I’ve been doing for 25 years.”

The remaining dates for Concerts for a Cause are Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. Tickets can be purchased online at www.notorietylive.com.

To learn more about Notoriety Gives, visit www.notorietygives.com.