Station Casinos will donate over $200,000 to two Las Vegas organizations committed to helping the valley’s children, the company announced on Wednesday. The gambling operator is donating $110,000 to The Public Education Foundation for its “Smart Start” education program, while $100,000 will be donated to Three Square Food Bank’s “BackPack for Kids” program.
Leaders and team members from parent company Red Rock Resorts convened at Pat Diskin Elementary School, one of eleven Station Casinos Smart Start partners, with leaders from both organizations for a check presentation ceremony.
During the event, Pat Diskin students, alongside school principal Regina Ballard, selected books purchased through the program, while leaders from Three Square delivered take-home meals for students through its “BackPack for Kids” program.
“Our commitment to The Public Education Foundation and Three Square remains at the forefront of our charitable mission,” said Bob Finch, Chief Operating of Station Casinos. “For over forty-five years, Station Casinos continues to be a community partner advocating for the education and well-being of the children in our city.”
Since 2000, Station Casinos has backed the Smart Start school partnership initiative with the Clark County School District (CCSD), administered by the Public Education Foundation. It supports high-need elementary schools with financial and volunteer support to help improve education and provide classroom resources. Since 2001, the company has contributed more than $2.7 million to local schools.
Station Casinos’ properties are paired up with an elementary school and offer year-round support. This includes volunteering in classrooms, mentoring students, hosting special events and donating needed resources. Schools may also utilize funding to purchase technology supplies, books and periodicals, instructional supplies, and more.
“We applaud Station Casinos for their investment in the Smart Start program and their long-term commitment to public education,” said Rich Broome, CEO of the Public Education Foundation. “Through their incredible support, our highest-need public schools have year-round resources that will help strengthen their school communities and increase student success.”
At the same time, Station Casinos also supports Three Square’s “BackPack for Kids” program, which began in 2008 to ensure low-income students who receive free or reduced-price school meals through CCSD continue to receive healthy food during the weekend or long breaks from school.
The program provides bags (“backpacks”) of nutritious, single-serving and ready-to-eat food items to food-insecure children. Each bag is approximately five pounds and consists of a variety of shelf-stable items, including juice, milk, fruit cups, cereal bars, crackers, pudding, cereal and entrees.
“The holiday season isn’t always joyful for the more than 131,000 children in Southern Nevada who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Three Square Food Bank President and CEO Brian Burton. “That’s why we’re so grateful for the generosity of longtime partners like Station Casinos, who donated the equivalent of 300,000 meals for our valley’s hungry children.”
According to data from Feeding America, 373,370 people are facing hunger in Nevada, and 122,450 of them are children. This implies 1 in 6 children in the state currently faces hunger.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2021/11/19/60292-station-casinos-donates-over–200k-to-two-organizations-supporting-vegas-39-children
