More than $4.6 million is being directed to nonprofit organizations in communities where MGM Resorts employees live and work, according to the company. The casino operator’s MGM Resorts Foundation has awarded 211 grants, fueled by contributions from employees and guests.
Recipients span communities in Nevada, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, as well as the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
MGM Resorts employees contributed their own money and volunteer hours as part of the initiative. The funding also draws on contributions from company guests.
Aside from donating funds, employees take on the task of evaluating which organizations receive grants. The Foundation’s Community Grant Councils are made up of employee volunteers who review applications and identify nonprofits creating an impact in their local communities. For this cycle, 87 council members read through hundreds of applications submitted from across the country.
“What makes the Foundation special is that our employees are invested in this work in every sense. They contribute their own dollars, understand the needs in their communities and help ensure those dollars reach organizations making a real difference,” said Maria Jose Gatti, Vice President of philanthropy at MGM Resorts. “It’s a model that puts our employees, and the communities they call home, at the heart of our giving.”
A Corporate Partnerships Manager and member of the Southern Nevada Community Grant Council described the experience of reading applications: “Reviewing applications can be emotional because you see just how many people need support. But it’s also inspiring to learn about the organizations stepping up to meet those needs. I will continue to talk about the work they do long after reading their applications.”
A Human Resources Partner and member of the Greater Washington Community Grant Council offered a similar account of the process: “Reading these applications gave me a deeper appreciation for the organizations quietly doing incredible work every day. It’s rewarding to know our decisions help strengthen the communities we call home.”
Where the grants landed
The 211 grants reached nonprofits in Nevada, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, along with the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Two organizations focused on children received funding from multiple councils this cycle. Shoes That Fit, which supplies new athletic shoes and other essentials to children facing financial hardship, secured grants in five regions: Southern Nevada, Southern Mississippi, New Jersey, Westchester and Bronx counties, and Western Massachusetts.
Gamers Outreach, which provides hospitalized children with therapeutic gaming experiences, received grants in six regions: Southern Nevada, Southern Mississippi, Michigan, New Jersey, Westchester and Bronx counties, and Western Massachusetts.
Each of the 211 grants funds an organization working to address a need in its community. A complete list of this cycle’s grant recipients is available on the MGM Resorts Foundation website.