All Rivers Casinos in Step for Military and First Responders Thursday September 19
Schenectady, NY (Sept. 18, 2024) - More than 6,000 Team Members of Rivers Casinos and its operating parent company, Rush Street Gaming, are banding together on Thursday, Sept. 19.
This is the second annual Rivers Gives Day of Service, when all five Rivers Casinos in four states synchronize their ongoing multifaceted community engagement programs. A common imperative — such as honoring military veterans and first responders — is selected across all markets, and an uncommon, enterprise-wide plan is then activated.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, Team Members will mobilize at Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia.
Each Rivers Casino will send volunteers to regional veterans’ service centers or first responder organizations to participate in facility enhancement and beautification efforts, such as groundskeeping and cleanups. Other Team Members will remain at the casino, devoting time and energy to assembling care packages. Financial contributions to local veterans and first responder nonprofits are also planned.
Rivers Gives is Rush Street Gaming’s long-standing community outreach program. The key pillars of Rivers Gives are volunteerism, board service, donation drives, in-kind contributions and corporate giving. Through Rivers Gives, each Rivers Casino annually contributes approximately 2,000 volunteer hours per property to local nonprofit partners.
“Rivers Casino is proud to honor the heroes in our local communities on Rivers Gives Day and year-round, whether they’ve served in the military or arrive first on the scene during emergencies,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming. “We admire their bravery, and we’re grateful for their service.”
After 2023’s inaugural year, Rush Street Gaming was inspired by its Team Members to make Rivers Gives Day of Service an annual event to demonstrate appreciation and to uplift its communities. Last year’s focus was on health and wellness nonprofits.
“Giving back to the community has long been part of our culture,” said Dawn Reynolds Pettit, chief human resources officer of Rush Street Gaming. “Coordinating this companywide effort is ambitious, and Rivers Casino Team Members always rise to the occasion.”
Across their operating markets, Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming annually contribute approximately $14 million to local nonprofit partners and various community groups.
Rivers Casino Schenectady Partners with Capital Region Veterans Memorial
For Rivers Gives Day of Service 2024, Rivers Casino Schenectady is partnering with Capital Region Veteran’s Memorial. The mission of the Capital Region Veteran’s Memorial “Legacy Project” is in creating a place of respite in which all Veterans, their families, and the public can experience a place of welcome, camaraderie, remembrance, and even vindication - a place of solitude, comfort, and peace to allow Veterans and their families to help heal the invisible wounds of war.
Located on a six-acre park-like plot of land at the intersection of Dutch Meadows Lane and Rt 50 in Glenville, NY, the Capital Region Veterans Memorial will include monuments with the names of all Capital Region Veterans who gave their lives while serving in all major conflicts including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It will also have a Welcome Center, Veterans Café, and a Military Museum – all intended to be a place where Veterans, their families, and the public can relax, make friends, and obtain information.
On Thursday, September 19, Rivers Team Members will be spending the day at the memorial site providing general clean-up throughout the area including the monument sites and resource center; planting shrubs and perennials; staining an ADA ramp; and assembling and donating care packages to the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Glenville, NY.
In addition to the in-kind contributions of our Team Members, and guests through our “Donations Make A Difference Campaign” in August, Rivers Casino will make a financial contribution to the Capital Region Veteran’s Memorial in the amount of $12,407, with the check presentation to be made during onsite volunteer activities. Proceeds raised at a Team Member Golf Tournament set for September 23 will also benefit the memorial.
Casino guests can also get in on the giving thanks to a Rivers Gives collection box that will be prominently featured on the gaming floor. Rivers Casino will pass along any chips, uncashed slot vouchers or currency contributions to its local nonprofit partners.
About Rivers Casino & Resort
Located at the picturesque Mohawk Harbor near the heart of downtown Schenectady, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady features 1,050 slots, 66 live table games, a 16-table poker room and a live, in-casino luxury sportsbook lounge. The casino offers five distinctive restaurants—among them are Dukes Chophouse, Flipt, Johnny’s To-Go and Mian. Rivers features a multipurpose Event Center space, a lively entertainment lounge—Van Slyck’s, live music performances, free parking and daily promotions and giveaways. The Landing Hotel is a 165-room, six-story boutique hotel with riverfront views located adjacent to the Event Center. Rivers, which opened in 2017, employs approximately 1,000 team members and has been voted a great place to work in Schenectady. Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady is owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates. For more information, visit RiversCasino.com/Schenectady
About Rush Street Gaming
Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates have developed and operate Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia. By placing an emphasis on superior design and outstanding customer service, Rush Street Gaming has become one of the leading casino developers in the United States. Rush Street’s casinos employ approximately 6,000 Team Members and generate more than $1.5 billion in annual gaming revenue. All Rush Street Gaming casinos have been voted a “Best Place to Work” or “Top Workplace” by their Team Members. For more information, visit RushStreetGaming.com.
