The Atlantic City casino industry and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey on Wednesday announced the Casinos Unite Against Hunger campaign has raised nearly $400,000 since its launch in May 2025 – the equivalent of providing more than 1.2 million meals to those in need.
The total was reached during CFBNJ’s inaugural “Meal on a Mission: A Chef’s Tableside Experience,” June 12 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The event brought together community leaders, chefs, local businesses and supporters committed to addressing food insecurity throughout South Jersey.
“Meal on a Mission is a powerful example of what can happen when the Atlantic City community comes together around a common goal,” Casino Association of New Jersey President George Goldhoff said in a statement. “Through our partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Atlantic City’s casino industry is helping to create a meaningful, lasting impact for our families facing food insecurity throughout our region.”
During Meal on a Mission, the Atlantic City casino industry donated nearly $120,000 to CFBNJ. This included a $50,000 donation from the Casino Association of New Jersey and a $50,000 donation from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in honor of its eighth anniversary.
The inaugural event was made possible by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City as host and Culinary Visionary Sponsor; Casino Association of New Jersey as Culinary Visionary Sponsor; Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City as Executive Chef Sponsor; and Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa and Ocean Casino Resort as Epicurean Sponsors. Chefs and restaurants from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Entertainment Properties, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City participated in the event.
In addition to financial support, casino employees have volunteered with CFBNJ initiatives and participated in community outreach efforts. During the 2025 holiday season, the industry participated in a mobile food pantry in Ventnor, New Jersey, and helped provide 1,200 turkeys to families in need.
In 2026, in addition to sponsoring Meal on a Mission, Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City donated $20,000 to support the CFBNJ, and MGM Resorts Foundation donated $10,000.
“Every day, too many individuals and families around New Jersey face difficult choices between paying bills, keeping a roof over their heads, and putting food on the table,” said Community FoodBank of New Jersey President & CEO Elizabeth McCarthy. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of organizations like the Casino Association of New Jersey as we work to eliminate hunger in the Garden State.”
CFBNJ is New Jersey’s largest anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization, providing food to more than 800 local food assistance organizations across 15 counties and connecting neighbors with resources that support long-term stability.
