The state of Nevada has fostered an environment (both political and economic) that has been hospitable to the growth of gaming since its legalization during the Great Depression. Casinos have prospered here, raking in billions of dollars in revenue, and gaming operators have recognized the importance of community that supports them. As such, companies such as Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage and American Casino and Entertainment Properties have chosen to give back to the causes that are important to their employees and neighbors, always acknowledging that without the people of Nevada, their prosperity would be an impossible dream.

The aforementioned companies have established philanthropic branches or foundations that devote time, resources and manpower to helping the Las Vegas community’s countless charitable organizations. Without the gaming industry, many non-profits would likely suffer more than they already are in a declining economy that is leaving many donors without extra funds to give.

Cause and Effect

Gaming companies typically donate funds to dozens of charitable organizations, often categorized according to issue. Each company’s philanthropy is centered on three or four areas of focus, ranging from education to healthcare—issues that are important to the wellbeing of a successful community.

Boyd Gaming’s emphasis on education can be traced back to Sam Boyd, the legendary gaming operator who also brought the United Way of Southern Nevada and the Boys and Girls Club to Las Vegas. For Boyd Gaming employees, continuing Boyd’s philanthropy is an important aspect of maintaining the company he founded.

“Boyd Gaming has had such a stellar reputation in the community. My task is to ensure that stellar reputation continues,” said Gina Polovina, vice president of community and government affairs for Boyd Gaming. “We’re very active in all the jurisdictions in which we operate. That’s Sam’s legacy. That culture has been handed down and is still very much apart of our operations. Giving back to the communities in which we operate is part of our mission statement. It’s part of our culture.”

Education is also an area of importance for the Las Vegas Sands, the company behind the Venetian and Palazzo resorts. The company’s philanthropic commitment is sourced from the corporation, owner Sheldon Adelson’s family and the Venetian Foundation, all three of which focus on the issues of youth, health and education. Andy Abboud, vice president of government relations and community development for the Las Vegas Sands, said the company seeks to devote resources to underserved organizations in areas in which both the company and the Adelson family decided to specialize.

“We felt that there’s a wide range of groups that have needs, and as we’re looking at the needs of our community, we wanted to look at those groups that probably had the least amount of resources, those that were most vulnerable,” Abboud said. “Youth are the future of our community, education is a top issue always here in Southern Nevada and health is important due to the Adelson family’s commitment to curing incurable diseases. It was really driven by and captured the spirit of the Adelsons and what the Adelsons’ causes were.”

Like Boyd Gaming, the Las Vegas Sands follows in the footsteps of its founder in giving back to the Las Vegas community.

“We wanted to give back to the community that’s helped us,” Abboud said. “We’re part of this community, and we wanted to give back to the community. It really comes from the spirit of philanthropy demonstrated by the Adelsons. We didn’t feel any pressure to do so—it was a natural response.”

Children Are the Future

The gaming industry takes a hands-on approach to helping Southern Nevada’s youth; employees often volunteer to help at-risk schools that are in need of funding and supplies.

MGM Mirage’s focus on education has led the company to commit to empowerment schools like Culley Elementary School, which was in dire need of help when MGM Mirage adopted it in 2006. The company donates $50,000 per year to the school, in addition to providing school supplies and job assistance for parents.

MGM Mirage has also supplied backpacks and shoes for children in need, and even allowed students to tour the Bellagio Conservatory to learn more than a simple textbook analysis of horticulture.

Merlinda Gallegos, vice president of philanthropy for MGM Mirage, said the company’s charitable giving is founded in a desire to “invest in those communities where our own employees work.” Culley Elementary School is now one of six high-achieving elementary schools in the Clark County School District, proving that partnering with a powerful gaming operator can enrich Las Vegas neighborhoods.

The overarching theme of Boyd Gaming’s charitable contributions is early childhood education, an area that Polovina said is necessary for creating the building blocks of a well-rounded society.

“You make a difference on the front end of the child’s life,” Polovina said. “You invest in that young life because then those young people can be successful, prosperous members of our community by the time they graduate high school or receive some post-secondary diploma.

“If you don’t take that step, you face high dropout rates, teen pregnancies, gangs—all those other deviations. Oftentimes they end up in the juvenile justice system. (Many) individuals that are currently incarcerated haven’t graduated from high school. We’re tying to provide our young people with the tools to be successful.”

Boyd Gaming supports United Way of Southern Nevada’s Success by Six program, which provides comprehensive early education for children and parents, including teaching colors, numbers, rhythms and other important information to children before they enter the first grade.

American Casino and Entertainment Properties is another gaming operating company invested in the education of Nevada’s youth. Former mayor Ron Lurie, executive vice president and general manager of Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and chairman of ACEP’s Community Connection program, said the company encourages its employees to be active in the school system that educates many of their own children, often by volunteering or mentoring young students.

“We make sure we meet with the principal and find out what their needs are,” Lurie said. “We have a back-to-school event at each property where we give backpacks and school supplies, as well as clothing, socks and jackets for kids who come to school and don’t have those kinds of clothes…we want to be hands on instead of just writing a check to an organization.”

Getting Involved

Employees are an integral part of helping gaming companies provide resources for Nevada’s schools, as well as many other charitable organizations. Casino employees are encouraged to donate time and energy to philanthropic events, and some companies even provide tangible incentives to further emphasize the importance of charitable giving.

MGM Mirage is one such company that actively supports employees who volunteer; the company instituted a program called Dollars for Doers, which provides grants to an agency chosen by an employee who has volunteered for a certain number of hours at a specific non-profit organization. The company also has an employee-driven charitable arm, the MGM Mirage Voice Foundation, through which workers can choose to have a specified amount taken out of each paycheck and donated directly to a non-profit agency. The corporation underwrites all administrative fees for any donations made through the Voice Foundation.

“Here at MGM Mirage we know that our employees are our best assets,” Gallegos said. “We have a responsibility to make sure that there’s a strong community where employees can take their families to enjoy their downtime. If a neighbor is in need, there will be an agency to give them a hand up. We are part of this community. We have an obligation, and it’s both a privilege and a responsibility to support our employees.”

The Las Vegas Sands pushes employee volunteerism through verbal encouragement, though Abboud said Sands workers have never needed incentives to become involved in their communities.

“We’ve never needed to offer incentives,” Abboud said. “Volunteers always come forward and say, ‘How can we help?’ It’s a natural inclination of our team members to give back. We encourage it from the beginning, from their first day, and we always encourage community involvement. Whether it be walking for cancer relief or participating in telethons or marathons, we’ve never had an issue trying to get people involved.”

Sometimes colleagues bring their own philanthropic ideas to the table, as was the case for ACEP’s Ron Lurie. A Community Connection executive who was on the board for the American Lung Association engineered a partnership between ACEP and ALA that resulted in plans for a February 2009 stair climb that will raise money for the ALA. Four hundred participants will compete for 50 slots in a final race against the clock on the stairs of the Stratosphere. Lurie hopes the stair climb will become an annual event.

The Holiday Spirit

Of course, the holiday season would be incomplete without the gift of giving, which is why gaming companies organize contributions to those in need during the season. Las Vegas Sands plans to adopt families who are in need of meals and presents for children while also giving to local food banks. MGM Mirage also plans to adopt families, though with the economic crisis hitting close to home, the families will be those of employees rather than strangers. Boyd Gaming is contributing employee assistance to the Opportunity Village Magical Forest in order to “get the holiday spirit flowing through (the) organization,” Polovina said.

ACEP organizes toy drives for Christmas, some of which go to schools. Principals recommend families in need to receive assistance from ACEP. Lurie said contributing to the community, especially during the holiday season, is a responsibility for conscientious businesses like gaming companies.

“I think we all feel it’s important to give back to the community, especially local businesses,” Lurie said. “We’re a local casino, and we have a lot of local customers. It’s important that we give back. Not just, ‘Come in and we want you to spend your dollars here,’ but we think it’s important to show community support.”

By Caitlin McGarry

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