Page 20 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2022

Contributions & Donations
Pictured with the donation from Harrah’s Gulf Coast are (from left) Doreen Shoemake, MCARDD; Bridget Piernas, MCARDD, Thuylinh Nguyen, Harrah’s; Katelyn Martin, MCARDD; Erica Hoban, Harrah’s; and Donna Joachim, MCARDD.
Harrah’s collects
change to donate
to autism center
BILOXI — The Mississippi Centers
for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities (MCARDD) received a $12,800 donation from Harrah’s Gulf Coast and its guests. Harrah’s team members collected patron’s change and gaming vouchers over the course of 2021.
The much-needed monetary funds for the Mississippi Centers for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities, which is committed to improving the way children are identified, assessed, and diagnosed, while providing advanced tools for treating those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), will be used to further their mission across South Mississippi.
Collectively, Harrah’s Gulf Coast’s HERO team chose MCARDD as their recipient
due to the impactful work they do daily for families in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson,
and George Counties. For Mississippians impacted by autism, early intervention is a key focus in treatment offered by MCARDD.
“MCARDD is elated to receive such a generous donation,” said Terra Dickey, executive director for the Mississippi Centers for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities. “We are beyond grateful for the generosity. The donated funds will be used to assist us in furthering our mission to support Autism Awareness in our communities.”
20 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS WINTER 2022
Holiday Spirit Strikes
The Gold Strike executive team assisted in a number of holiday events, including making wreaths, selling and delivering Christmas trees, as well as collecting and sorting toys donated from area businesses for the children served by Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Pictured at the Christmas tree lot fundraiser are executive team members Robert Leise, Jennifer Williams, Amber Caldwell, Kelli Markway, Marla Sparks, Efrain Perez Agosto, Billy Sandifer, Michael Mavromatis, Sean Hopkins, Art Heun, Cray Collins, Mike Forster, Sophorn Vongphrachanh, and Tina O’Keefe.
Food For The Weekends
Hard Rock Biloxi’s nonprofit organization, Rockin’ the Coast, provided a grant to purchase enough food to feed 20 children on the weekends for the rest of the school year. Hard Rock employees volunteered their time to package the food into bags that will discreetly go home with the children every Friday so they have hot, nutritious food on the weekends.
Thanksgiving Lunch
Sam’s Town Tunica provided Thanksgiving box lunches for the elderly in Tunica County. The property’s culinary team prepared all the food, while the leadership team packaged the 500 meals to go. The Tunica County Sheriff’s Department helped deliver the meals to TRIAD, a charitable group that supports elderly in Tunica and surrounding counties. Providing Thanksgiving lunch has become an annual tradition for Sam’s Town.