A $1m crisis and disaster relief pledge will be placed into an employee emergency grant fund and the equivalent of 400,000 meals will be donated across the US as part of MGM Resorts International’s initiative implementation.
The MGM Resorts Emergency Relief Fund was set up to provide employees, as well as their immediate families, with short-term relief in making payments or to meet obligations during the unexpected hardships and emergencies COVID-19 has caused. The $1m pledge will now provide added funds to assist those impacted by the coronavirus, including full-time employees, on-call employees and those facing layoff, separation or furlough.
Bill Hornbuckle, Acting CEO and President of MGM Resorts International, stated: “As we confront extraordinary events and an unprecedented global pandemic crisis, we know that this is an extremely challenging and uncertain time for many of our employees, their families, friends and neighbors and we are committed to help those in need.
“We have done a number of things to help our colleagues, including significantly expanding eligibility coverage for the MGM Employee Emergency Grant Fund. MGM Resorts International is donating $1 million towards disaster relief to offer additional support to employees impacted by the crisis and who may be experiencing hardships.
“We’ve also stepped up our commitment to communities around the country. Over the past week, MGM has donated the equivalent of 400,000 meals through local food banks to alleviate food insecurity in the United States.”
Regarding the donation of food, MGM Resorts is working alongside local food banks to ensure all available fresh food from its resorts is quickly donated to charitable organizations. Moreover, as it stands, the company has donated over 480,000 pounds of food – equivalent to 400,000 meals – to the communities in the areas in which it operates following the decision it took to temporarily close its properties across the country.
Jyoti Chopra, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International, added: “In battling the current global crisis, at MGM Resorts we intend to embrace humanity, exemplify inclusion and exhibit compassion. Our commitment to our employees and the communities in which we operate, conduct business and serve our customers, remains steadfast.”
The company has set itself the target of donating 5 million meals through its Feeding Forward program and surpassing 1 million volunteer hours within the community by 2025.
As it stands:
- MGM National Harbor (Oxon Hill, Md.): MGM National Harbor worked with food donor partner ‘Nourish Now’ to contribute 55,000 pounds of food to community nonprofits such as Nourish Now. The food will provide more than 45,000 meals to Maryland residents throughout Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
- MGM Springfield (Springfield, Mass.): MGM Springfield has donated 12,000 pounds to the ‘Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’, ‘Open Pantry Community Services’ and ‘Friends of the Homeless’. These donations will provide over 10,000 meals to Springfield residents in need.
- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (Biloxi, Miss.): Beau Rivage has donated 25,000 pounds of food to multiple organizations including ‘Extra Table’, ‘Loaves & Fishes’, ‘Lord is My Help’ and the ‘Hancock County Food Pantry’ for individuals and families across the city. The effort will provide more than 20,000 meals to South Mississippi families who may have suddenly found themselves in need.
- Gold Strike Casino Resort (Tunica, Miss.): Gold Strike has donated 10,000 pounds of food which is more than 8,000 meals to ‘Sacred Hearth Southern Mission’.
- MGM Northfield Park (Northfield, Ohio): Working with JACK Casino and JACK Thistledown, MGM Northfield Park has donated more than 3,000 pounds equal 2,500 meals of food to the ‘Greater Cleveland Food Bank’, offering support to the Northeast Ohio community. They are continuing to donate throughout the week.
- MGM Grand Detroit Casino (Detroit, Mich.): To provide critical help to the city, MGM Grand Detroit has donated approximately 15,000 pounds of produce and dairy products to ‘Forgotten Harvest’, a food distribution channel equal to 12,500 meals. MGM Grand Detroit also donated 3,000 gloves to medical professionals in the City of Detroit.
- Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa (Atlantic City, NJ): The Borgata has donated more than 35,000 pounds or about 30,000 meals to the ‘Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic County’ and to the ‘Community Food Bank of NJ’.
- Empire City Casino (Yonkers, NY): ‘Cariats of Port Chester NY’ received approximately 25,000 pounds of food from Empire City which equals to 20,000 meals.
