HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT: COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES
In 2000, Harrah’s Entertainment became the first casino company to adopt specific core principles that guide the way we treat our guests, employees and communities. These principles are called the "Harrah's Code of Commitment." A significant portion of the Code pertains to the communities in which we operate.
Code of Commitment: A commitment to our communities to help make them vibrant places to live and work.
- We share our financial success with our communities by donating one percent of company profits to civic and charitable causes.
- We encourage our employees to volunteer in civic and charitable causes.
Harrah’s supports our communities through charitable donations, volunteerism, community partnerships and sponsorships. Each property and every employee hold an integral Community Relations role that is vital to Harrah’s success.
GIVING GUIDELINES
We are proud of our contributions but seek to allocate scarce resources as wisely as possible. As a result we have established the following giving guidelines.
Harrah’s gives preference to Community Relations efforts in these strategic areas:
- Senior Citizens– Because the need is great and because they are historically underserved, Harrah’s places a particular emphasis on supporting community-based programs that enhance the lives of our senior citizens. Improving senior nutrition, housing, transportation, access to health care and helping our seniors “age in place” are among our primary philanthropic initiatives.
- Diversity– Because we find strength in diversity, Harrah’s supports community-based programs that serve a diverse population and enhance community resources. This includes investing in efforts that encourage economic development as well as professional, personal and academic growth
- Health– Because quality health care is a critical need, we support community-based programs that address health issues for individuals and non-profit organizations. Our priority programs include educational awareness of diseases, access to health care, wellness programs, and research.
Requirements :
All charitable requests must submitted via website (see link at right) and must be on behalf of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
Harrah’s is unable to support charitable requests for the following types of organizations or activities:
- Churches or religious organizations unless they provide non-denominational services
- Treatment centers or facilities, or individual medical services
- Organizations that discriminate by race, color, creed, gender, national origin or sexual orientation
- Grants or sponsorship to individuals
- Athletic sponsorships of individuals and/or teams (little leagues)
- Political or advocacy groups.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
Meals On Wheels Association of America
Many senior citizens in our communities are at risk of experiencing hunger.
In February 2002, Harrah’s Entertainment became a national prime sponsor of the Meals on Wheels Association of America’s “March For Meals” campaign and committed $1 million of support over three years to Meals On Wheels programs. In 2005, The Harrah’s Foundation extended our sponsorship by approving an additional $1 million of support over the next four years.
Since 2002, Harrah’s Entertainment has donated 25 vehicles to Meals On Wheels programs across America. The Harrah’s fleet has driven over 600,000 miles to deliver more than 2 million meals to homebound seniors in the past four years. Harrah’s donations have directly resulted in the elimination and reduction of waiting lists at most of the agencies the company has supported. Due to these truck donations and the publicity surrounding them, a majority of the Meals On Wheels programs Harrah’s has supported were able to receive additional grants and private funding, and every agency has reported an increase in calls from public asking how they could help or how a loved one could participate in the program. For more information on the Meals On Wheels Association of America, please visit www.mowaa.org.
Harrah´s properties also provide additional funding, in-kind donations and volunteers to local programs throughout the year.
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. Although there is currently no cure, there is mounting evidence that a brain healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s’ disease or other dementia. There is also evidence that early detection and intervention can slow the progress of the disease.
In 2004, The Harrah’s Foundation announced the formation of five-year collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, the tremendous progress in research in recent years, and things people can do to maintain a healthy brain as they age. The collaboration is funded by a $3 million grant from The Harrah’s Foundation.
Harrah’s Entertainment is also proud to be a 2005 National Memory Walk Team. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit www.alz.org.
United Way
In 2005, Harrah’s Entertainment and our employees donated more than $1 million to the United Way agencies in the communities where we operate. The United Way agencies use these funds to provide assistance to the numerous accredited nonprofit organizations serving the community.
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERISM
H.E.R.O.
H.E.R.O. (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) is an employee-based volunteer program at all Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Rio, Showboat and Harveys properties. Volunteers make noteworthy, visible contributions to the community by devoting their time, skills, expertise and dedication to helping others. By actively participating in charitable and civic events, the H.E.R.O. team demonstrates that Harrah’s employees make a positive, real impact in our communities.
Employee Matching Grant Program
Harrah’s invites employees to participate in a special investment program that puts Company funds and their personal funds to work for higher education. The Matching Grant Program matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000 per year, to eligible colleges and universities. The program encourages employees to support higher education by giving to those institutions of greatest importance to them. By doubling donations, the program increases educational opportunities for more students.
|
