Proceeds from the Evening of Giving at La Plaza Mall will go to good causes

McALLEN — Leo Perez blew luck onto the pair of red dice holding them just above the craps’ tables green felt surface.

He shook the dice as the dealer watched and sent them sprawling.

A one and a two.

A collective groan went up from the assembled crowd.

Three is not exactly the best roll at craps.

But Perez smiled as the dealer pulled his chips away. His money was headed to a good cause.

Perez played casino games Sunday night at La Plaza Mall’s sixth annual Evening of Giving.

The mall extended its hours to 10 p.m., charging shoppers $10 and offering them one-night only discounts at 65 stores. Of the $10 admission fee, $7 went to a slew of participating charities and $3 benefited the Simon Youth Foundation, which helps disadvantaged children pursue higher education. Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. owns La Plaza Mall and coordinates the function.

The money Perez and others lost at the casino games also went to charity.

Half went to the Simon Youth Foundation and half to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.

As Perez gambled, shoppers lined up over his shoulder to browse at Helzberg Diamonds.

La Plaza Mall typically does brisk business each weekend, but Sunday’s event drew nearly shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the shopping center.

Last year, 10,000 people flocked to the Evening of Giving, said Isabel Rodriguez-Vera, the mall’s director of marketing. Mall officials expectedto top that number at this year’s event. The mall hosts this event to benefit charity and also to launch the busy holiday shopping season, Rodriguez-Vera said. The event included Christmas carolers, a musical performance from a group of local school children and an appearance by Santa’s wife, Mrs.

Claus.

Alicia Aleman, of Edinburg, shopped for a few hours at the event, buying a ticket and also jumping at the chance to wrap up her Christmas shopping early. Aleman said she typically waits until after Thanksgiving to start looking for gifts. But this year, she decided to start early and also help a worthy cause.

Plus, she said her husband bought her the ticket and she couldn’t turn it down.

Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.