(Left - Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts Team Members volunteering at a Bronx pop up food pantry) (Right:(L to R) Lisa Sorin - President of Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Taryn Duffy - VP Public Affairs Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Sandra Erickson, Vice Chair of Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation with a donation from Empire City Casino to the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation to support Bronx workforce development and education initiatives.  (Photo Credits: Jelena Gerga, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts)

 

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts Continues to Be “ALL IN” On the Bronx, Supporting Numerous Nonprofit Organizations Implementing Critical Programs to Build a Stronger Borough

 

Since MGM Resorts acquired Empire City in 2019, the Bronx has been at the forefront of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts to support local communities, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations that deliver critical services and programs

 

Yonkers, NY - Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts (“Empire City”) may be located two miles beyond the Bronx border in Westchester County, but the entertainment and gaming destination continues to be  “All In” on its philanthropic support of the Bronx. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been directed to numerous Bronx nonprofits to fund programs within the company’s core philanthropic focus areas, which  include food insecurity programs to ensure residents have access to nutritious meals, educational programs that support academic success, and workforce development initiatives providing educational and training programs to prepare individuals for sustainable career opportunities. 

 

As part of Empire City’s commitment to public education and workforce development, BronxWorks, a local nonprofit that provides key services to uplift and empower Bronx communities, was awarded a significant grant for $30,000 to fund the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program for youth in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The grant  is in addition to previous grants awarded  to BronxWorks to support workforce development with a focus on unhoused individuals. 

 

“As we mark 50 years of proudly serving Bronx communities, including 60,000 Bronx residents annually, we are fortunate to have corporate partners who step up to serve their community in many ways and Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is no exception,” said Eileen Torres, Executive Director of BronxWorks.  “Thanks to their continued generosity and support, BronxWorks is able to enhance our STEM programs which stimulate creativity and innovation while teaching the value of teamwork and collaboration, all necessary tools for students to be successful on their educational and career journeys."

Empire City also recently supported the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation with a grant of $10,000 to support the newly-formed Foundation’s workforce development initiatives throughout the Bronx, to ensure job opportunities for the next generation of Bronx leaders. 

 

“We are grateful for the longstanding partnership with Empire City Casino,” said Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “Their ongoing support allows us to implement workforce development programs to best prepare Bronxites for career opportunities. We look forward to continuing this partnership as they work to secure a full gaming license which will create thousands of new union jobs and expand opportunities for Bronx businesses as providers of goods and services.”

 

Over the last 12 months, Empire City has also supported numerous Bronx organizations in line with its three pillars of giving which are workforce development, public education and food insecurity. Through the company’s workforce development and homelessness initiatives, Empire City recently provided a $10,000 workforce development grant to VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a nonprofit provider of free services for visually impaired individuals and their families.

 

Nonprofit organizations also heavily rely on the services of volunteers to supplement their typically limited staff. Volunteerism is core to the employee culture at MGM Resorts properties across the globe, with employees having exceeded more than one million volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The Bronx graffiti cleanup initiated by Empire City last year, expanded to become part of a Bronx Day of Action event held jointly with team members from Empire City joining the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and New York City Council Member Althea Stevens in the Mount Eden district of the Bronx near Jerome Avenue and 170th Street to beautify the neighborhood.  

 

Empire City’s philanthropic focus on food insecurity continues as rising inflation has increased demand at food pantries around the region.  Members of the Empire City team supported an MLK Day of Action event by volunteering at the Hunts Point Food Bank, as well as funding a pop up food pantry in a known food desert in the borough through their partnership with Catholic Charities.  

 

Some Bronx students headed back to school with backpacks and supplies donated by companies like Empire City, which expanded its backpack donation this year to support more students in Yonkers, Mount Vernon and the Bronx. Empire City also continues its longtime support of community events such as the Summer Concert Series at Orchard Beach, a perfect pairing for a company that serves as a popular entertainment destination of choice for many Bronx residents. 

 

“We are committed to giving back to our local communities and the Bronx is a primary partner,” said Taryn Duffy, Vice President of Public Affairs at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. “More than one-third of our workforce call the Bronx home, and supporting our neighbors is part of our company DNA. Our commitment to the communities of the Bronx is strong, continuing, and unwavering.”

 

Empire City Casino’s philanthropic programming supports non-profit organizations that provide direct services for residents in the local communities in which it operates, as well as where its employees reside. Currently, Empire City is reviewing another round of grant applications with the hope of distributing additional funds to organizations in the Bronx and beyond in the near future.  To learn more, please visit  Community Engagement - Empire City Casino. 

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About Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the northeast. Featuring nearly 4,700 of the hottest slots, electronic three card poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and sic bo table games, Empire City Casino also offers guests year-round harness racing and international simulcasting; live entertainment including the best party, tribute, and Latin bands; New York’s hottest DJ’s, and more. A selection of dining options will satisfy even the most discerning palate with fan-favorite fare at The Pub, and convenient delicious options at Lil’ Cocina and the Big Kitchen International Food Court. Visit Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (off I-87 at Central Avenue) Yonkers, NY, Westchester County, open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Empire City Casino is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit www.empirecitycasino.com or call 914.968.4200. 

 

Media Contacts: 

Josh Knoller, Nicholas & Lence Communications, (201) 294-9586, josh@nicholaslence.com 

Maria Cray, Nicholas & Lence Communications, (508) 245-6564, maria@nicholaslence.com