Gila River Resorts & Casinos (GRRC) has donated a total of $173,751.52 to four non-profit organizations in Arizona. Owned and operated by the Gila River Indian Community, Gila River Resorts & Casinos owns three locations - Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte, Vee Quiva - and a fourth casino, Santan Mountain, is set to open later this year.
The donations were done with the help of the casino guests. The people wishing to donate must take their winning ticket and put it in the machine. Once that ticket is in, guests have the option of donating as little or as much as they want.
“Sometimes that five cents don’t get you [much], but that five cents, if they give it back to an organization, it adds up,” said a casino representative, as reported by Fox 10 Phoenix. “It makes a difference in the community for local families, children, and organizations.”
Over the last year, Gila River guests donated a total of $173,751.52 to four local nonprofits, including Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, Special Olympics Arizona, and Homeless Youth Connection.
“This kind of donation is rare for an organization our size and what that really entails for us, it can pay for an entire program,” said a spokesperson for Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona.
This was the first year for the kiosk cash program for the resort and casino, given its success the casino expects to continue the program.
The non-profit provides therapeutic arts programming for children who have experienced trauma due to abuse, neglect, or homelessness. They use a model called Art with Intention, and the casino’s donation will help put about 250 children through a summer program.