The MGM Resorts Foundation has awarded 211 grants totaling more than $4.6 million to nonprofit organizations in seven states and Washington, D.C., where the company operates, supported by contributions from employees and guests, the Las Vegas foundation announced on Tuesday.
Employee involvement extends to the Foundation’s Community Grant Councils, where volunteers from across the company review applications and help identify organizations that are creating meaningful impact in their local communities. The foundation noted that 87 council members reviewed hundreds of applications across the country.
“What makes the foundation special is that our employees are invested in this work in every sense,” said Maria Jose Gatti, vice president of philanthropy at MGM Resorts. “They contribute their own dollars, understand the needs in their communities and help ensure those dollars reach organizations making a real difference.”
“It’s a model that puts our employees, and the communities they call home, at the heart of our giving,” Gatti added.
This year’s grant recipients range from local grassroots nonprofits to organizations making an impact across multiple MGM communities, including:
- Shoes That Fit, which provides new athletic shoes and other essentials to children facing financial hardship, received support in five regions, including Southern Nevada, Southern Mississippi, New Jersey, Westchester & Bronx counties and Wester Massachusetts.
- Gamers Outreach, which provides hospitalized children with therapeutic gaming experiences, received funding in six regions, including Southern Nevada, Southern Mississippi, Michigan, New Jersey, Westchester & Bronx counties and Western Massachusetts.
“Reviewing applications can be emotional because you see just how many people need support,” a member of the Southern Nevada Community Grant Council and Corporate Partnerships Manager said in a statement. “But it’s also inspiring to learn about the organizations stepping up to meet those needs.”
An unidentified Human Resources partner and member of the Greater Washington Community Grant Council said reading these applications “gave me a deeper appreciation for the organizations quietly doing incredible work every day.”
When asked why the names of council members were kept confidential, an MGM spokesman told CDC Gaming in an email that they keep the names confidential because they are members of the Community Grant Councils and will be making grant decisions again next year.
Among the 49 nonprofits in Nevada to receive funding was the College of Southern Nevada Foundation, Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, and Opportunity Village Foundation. The council also distributed money to nonprofits in Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, as well as the greater Washington, D.C. area.
A full list of grant recipients can be found here.
