2/28/2023
Discovering The Smith Center
Emma Medas will never forget speaking in front of 3,000 fundraising professionals from around the world in 2022, when she welcomed everyone to the international conference of the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Speaking at that event “was a culmination of how much knowledge and appreciation for donor contributions I’ve gained, throughout all these years of working with the generous donors who made The Smith Center a reality,” says Medas, past president of the AFP’s Las Vegas chapter.
This marked an impressive career milestone for Medas, reflecting her role as a key member of The Smith Center’s core team since the very beginning.
Starting out 15 years ago as administrative assistant with the Development department, then advancing through numerous positions to now Vice President of Philanthropy, Medas helped usher The Smith Center project from fundraising to construction to its current status as a community fixture.
Through it all, she saw firsthand how donor support for The Smith Center — a nonprofit organization — made it all possible.
Ticket sales only cover 75 percent of the cost for The Smith Center’s overall operations, Medas points out, while philanthropic support covers the remaining 25 percent.
“I love The Smith Center today just as much as I did when it first opened, and our passionate donors make it all happen,” Medas says. “Their support allows us to present a wide range of music, theater and dance performances, and helps us to maintain our campus as we host weddings, graduations and celebrations of life. It’s just the breadth of things happening here that’s so wonderful.”
“I’ve seen every step of the way how crucial donor support is for sustaining The Smith Center’s operations,” she says. “I’m focused on applying everything I’ve learned toward securing the center’s future.”
Journeying from Europe to Vegas
Medas had to cross an ocean before helping to open The Smith Center.
Raised in Europe, she earned a bachelor’s degree in European business studies and European business administration from the University of Lincoln in Lincoln, England, then worked for an auditing company in Germany.
This background gave her a lifelong appreciation for the arts, she says.
“In Europe, every city has a performing arts center. I grew up constantly attending live performances, and it shaped how I view the world,” she says. “I believe everyone deserves to enjoy the performing arts as a part of everyday life.”
When Medas relocated to the U.S. and later settled in Las Vegas, she first worked at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum inside The Venetian Resort.
After hearing about a group of community leaders fundraising to build a world-class performing arts center in Las Vegas, Medas became an eager new employee of their team.
“I was excited to take part in such an important project in its infancy,” Medas recalls. “My daughter was very young at the time, and I wanted her to enjoy the same cultural experiences I did in my youth.”
Building The Smith Center from the Ground Up
Opening The Smith Center didn’t happen overnight – and Medas had a front-row seat to the tremendous undertaking of raising $470 million for the project.
Serving in a supportive role for the executive team at the time, she assisted as they sought funding from city, county and state governments.
Contributions from private donors proved pivotal for making The Smith Center’s construction possible, she says, especially from the center’s Founders who each donated $1 million or more.
“These contributions reflected a dream that our entire community shared, of bringing top performers from around the world to Las Vegas,” Medas recalls. “It was so uplifting to see a wide range of donors coming together with enthusiastic support.”
She felt inspired by Board Chairman Don Snyder and President and CEO Myron Martin, who never lost their passion for the project.
“I would listen to Myron and Don talk about the dream of The Smith Center, and how Las Vegas was the largest city in the U.S. without a performing arts center,” she remembers. “They talked about how this would be one of the most important buildings ever constructed in Las Vegas, and how Southern Nevadans would enjoy it for generations to come.”
Witnessing the Groundbreaking, Opening Night and Beyond
Medas witnessed key moments of The Smith Center’s construction — all of which she credits to the valuable combination of public and private support.
She joined an exhilarated crowd on a dirt lot downtown for the groundbreaking on May 26, 2009. She still remembers the cheers at the topping-off ceremony for the carillon tower on February 25, 2010.
“Every milestone was a testament to the philanthropic support that brought this dream to fruition,” she says.
She also attended The Smith Center’s opening night concert on March 10, 2012.
Medas and her family sat in balcony seats at the red-carpet event, filmed by PBS for nationwide broadcast. The star-studded night included performances by greats such as Carole King, Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, Jennifer Hudson and many others.
“It was a genuine celebration for Las Vegas,” she remembers. “It was just incredible to be there, watching one amazing act after another, live on the same stage.”
Watching The Smith Center Dream Unfold
As Medas advanced through various roles with the Development department, she saw how every donation helped The Smith Center make an impact.
“Donors’ ongoing support has helped the whole dream take shape, with The Smith Center becoming a community hub and audiences filling our theaters for hundreds of shows each year,” she says.
She especially takes pride in the center’s Education and Outreach programs.
Thanks to donor support, The Smith Center presents student matinees throughout each year, helps at-risk elementary schools create their own theater programs, and arranges teaching-artist residencies in preschools.
“I remember the first time I visited a preschool with the Education team and realized, ‘yes, we’re going to do this,’” Medas says. “The Smith Center strives to shape future generations through the arts.”
Securing The Smith Center’s Future
In her new role, Medas feels passionate about expanding philanthropic support for The Smith Center.
After crucial donations helped The Smith Center maintain its facilities during the lockdown, she encourages Southern Nevadans to explore the Campaign to Sustain The Smith Center — which will ensure the center can weather any storm.
“Donor support is so vital for The Smith Center to deliver on our mission to make the arts accessible to all,” Medas says. “We are grateful to community members who offer any level of support. With their contributions, we will inspire and uplift Southern Nevadans far into the future.”
SUPPORT THE SMITH CENTER