Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts (“Empire City”) has long been a part of the fabric of its surrounding communities with a strong commitment to supporting nonprofit organizations in the region. That philanthropic commitment has continued under the ownership of MGM Resorts which acquired the entertainment destination in January of 2019. Local charitable organizations have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, cash, and in-kind donations, as well as employee volunteer hours, since the acquisition.
Philanthropic giving in 2022 included more than two dozen local nonprofit organizations which received cash grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to address timely issues facing communities. The MGM Resorts enterprise-wide philanthropic initiative, “Focused on What Matters”, guides company donations to support public educational programs that reinforce academic success, food insecurity programs that provide access to nutritious meals, workforce development programs to prepare individuals for career opportunities, as well as environmental sustainability initiatives that create local sustainable environmental changes. Empire City continues to put community and corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) at the forefront of its commitment to New York.
“Social responsibility is ingrained in the MGM Resorts culture,” said Ed Domingo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. “As an economic fixture of the New York ecosystem, we will continue to listen to the needs of the communities and give back to organizations that work to create a better New York for all. We are so thankful for the local nonprofit partnerships that allow us to deliver critical resources to our communities.”
Through more than two dozen individual grants and cash donations in 2022, Empire City continues its influential role in supporting local Bronx and Westchester communities through numerous organizations. The Youth Community Outreach Program (“Y-COP”) of Mount Vernon, a certified childcare provider which helps provide families with equitable access to much-needed childcare and educational programs, was a grant recipient. The support provided by Empire City Casino allowed Y-COP to expand after-school and summer programs for area families. Additional public education programs were funded through ArtsWestchester, Untermyer Performing Arts Council, United Way of Westchester & Putnam, and other organizations.
Nonprofit organizations addressing food insecurity, including Feeding Westchester, New York City Food Bank, Yonkers Family YMCA, Yonkers Community Action Program, Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, and Catholic Charities, received funding to provide fresh locally-sourced food to residents in well-known food deserts in Westchester and the Bronx. Empire City’s continued focus on combating food insecurity remains paramount as the number of hungry New Yorkers grows while organizations face a reduction in donations due, in large part, to inflation and rising food costs.
Greyston Foundation, ArtsWestchester, BronxWorks, Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and The Guidance Center of Westchester were among the grant recipients implementing workforce development programs. VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired received funding to support workforce development programs that provide blind or visually impaired youth in the Bronx and Westchester with tools and resources needed to successfully enter the workforce.
“VISIONS is thrilled to be selected as a grant recipient,” said Nancy D. Miller, VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Executive Director and CEO. “Empire City’s support enables blind youth to achieve their work readiness and employment goals. They’re helping increase the number of working blind people above the current 40% employment rate for blind job seekers, compared to nearly double the number who are sighted and working. Thank you Empire City for making such a major difference in the lives of blind New Yorkers.”
Environmental sustainability has long been a priority for MGM Resorts and the company continues to uphold its role as a corporate leader supporting environmentally sustainable initiatives in the communities in which they operate. A grant from Empire City supported Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Youth Leadership and Green Team initiative to nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. Their Green Team program works with Yonkers Public School students, providing extensive training and placing them in paid environmental jobs. In 2022, the team built infrastructure trenches and rain gardens at various municipal housing sites around the city in response to the vulnerable flooding in Yonkers neighborhoods.
“Empire City Casino has supported our efforts to provide green jobs for local youth and make learning about the local environment accessible to Yonkers residents and visitors,” said Brigitte Griswold, Executive Director of Groundwork Hudson Valley. “There’s something powerful about local establishments joining forces for the overall benefit of our community.”
Grounded by the company’s core philanthropic values, Empire City not only contributed monetary donations to organizations but also created employee volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Almost four hundred cumulative volunteer hours were contributed by employees to area nonprofit organizations, with initiatives including food packing events, friendly cooking competitions, and assembling summer reading kits for students. Organizations working in the core focus areas stated above can learn more about the company’s philanthropic opportunities by visiting www.empirecitycasino.com.
