Disabled community benefits from Tony Orlando charity concert

By Dave Clark

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 | 7:48 p.m.

For entertainer Tony Orlando, his connection to Opportunity Village, a charity for people with disabilities, is personal.

He remembers carrying his then-teenage sister, Rhonda, who had cerebral palsy, around the house when she was too weak to move. But he said she was able to kick her foot in time to the song when he sang to her.

"I learned from my sister to enjoy the simple things in life," he said. "She taught me what became the essence of my performance."

He was referring to his entreaties for the audience to sing, stomp and clap along – part of his Saturday benefit concert for Opportunity Village at South Point.

Linda Smith, Opportunity Village’s chief development officer, said the organization's relationship with Orlando stretches back more than 25 years. It started when she approached him backstage after a concert at the Hilton and he agreed to do a concert at the organization’s former building.

She described the old facility near the 215 Bypass and Charleston Boulevard as decrepit.

"Tony could see we needed help," Smith said.

They lost touch until two years ago, when they met again backstage. He repeated a tour of Opportunity Village on Friday, planning for a half an hour. He stayed more than two. She said he signed autographs, took pictures and hugged more than 800 people.

"It was a tsunami of love," Orlando said. "Waves of hugs."

Rhonda Riley, job discovery program manager at Opportunity Village, was one of the last people he met as he was leaving. Smith prodded Riley to sing for him.

"I only know gospel," she said. "I immediately started singing 'Amazing Grace.'"

Orlando was touched and saw Rhonda's name as a sign.

"I felt there was a spiritual connection, like my sister was saying 'hello' to me," he said.

Orlando then invited Riley to open Saturday’s show for him. Riley said she was thrilled.

"I was all over the place telling people I got to sing for Tony Orlando," she said. "It was a blessing to be on stage and display my talent with someone as talented as him."

She also got a chance to explain her role at Opportunity Village to the audience.

"The greatest thing is when you place the students into a job out of the program and they become a productive part of the community," Riley said.

About 50 disabled people being helped by Opportunity Village were in the audience. Natalie Palmiere, 23, had met Orlando the day before and danced during the concert.

"I think he's funny," she said.

After the show, Orlando praised Opportunity Village for dispelling some of the stereotypes of Las Vegas.

"This place reveals the heartbeat that shines brightest in the city," he said. "They take mentally and physically challenged people and show them what they can contribute."

He said artwork he saw at the campus did not show sorrow or anger as one might presume.

Instead, he said, "It revealed joy."

Orlando also shared memories of communicating with his sister, whom he said had the IQ of an 8-month-old baby. Family members could recognize her tired cry and hunger cry.

"My mother, father and I were able to interpret the subtleties in her sounds for more than 20 years," Orlando said.

One of those sounds was the itch cry. When she uttered this, he and other family members would attempt to locate the itch -- a task he likened to finding a needle in a haystack. When she did, he recalled hearing a sigh of relief.

"I feel bad for people who are so uptight," Orlando said. "If only they knew how good it was to scratch the itch."

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].