Bally’s Corporation Thursday announced a $5 million donation to the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation as part of a long-term partnership. The largest gift in the foundation’s history, the donation doubles the size of CCRI’s endowment and increases opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in the casino and gaming industries and Bally’s employees looking to advance their skills.
The partnership was announced Thursday during an event hosted at CCRI’s Flanagan Campus and attended by Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee; Senate President Dominick Ruggerio; House Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski; Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim; CCRI Interim President Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan; and former CCRI President Dr. Meghan Hughes.
“It is an honor to partner with CCRI on such an exciting and important initiative,” Kim said in a statement. “We are proud to play an integral part in offering higher education opportunities for Rhode Island’s workforce, creating new jobs, and driving economic development. Rhode Island is our home, and continued investment in its local communities and workforces will always be a top priority for us. While this donation is the latest milestone in our long-term partnership with CCRI, we look forward to supporting this program for many years to come, creating a legacy of economic opportunity.”
The investment allows CCRI to offer students the opportunity to obtain a certificate or associate degree based on a comprehensive gaming-focused curriculum. The program includes traditional classroom learning, online courses, on-campus learning labs, and opportunities to work at a Bally’s property. The curriculum includes casino hospitality, and hotel management-specific courses, along with dealer training, casino operations, cybersecurity, igaming operations, culinary arts, hotel management, and slot technology.
“This landmark partnership between Bally’s and CCRI will provide important learning and training for our CCRI students, leading to new workforce opportunities,” said Gov. McKee. “The generous gift provided by one Rhode Island-based company for the benefit of so many of our state’s community college students is a powerful way to advance economic and social opportunity and teach meaningful, transferable workforce skills. I applaud Bally’s for investing in our state’s higher education system and our students.”
CCRI will work with faculty and staff to build out the course curriculum, with a goal of having degreed programs available by Fall 2024. The college’s Division of Workforce Partnerships will develop and launch short-term credentials for Bally’s workforce and create a pipeline of new employees.
Bally’s investment will also provide scholarships to qualifying Rhode Island residents seeking careers in gaming and hospitality industries.
“This remarkable gift recognizes the College’s track record in expanding new programs and degree pathways for students,” Costigan said. “The initiative, developed in partnership with the Bally’s and CCRI teams, will provide CCRI students with new opportunities to learn and work as the best version of themselves. Our partnership brings attention to the unparalleled value of community colleges and their powerful role in the region’s economy, and I am grateful for Bally’s belief in us and our incredible students.”
CCRI is the largest public higher education institution in Rhode Island, enrolling nearly 20,000 students each year. The school is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the United States Department of Education and serves more low-income students and students of color than any other higher education institution in the state.
