Rivers Casino employees volunteer their time to enhance veterans' service centres. (Image: SOPA Images Limited/Alamy)

More than 6,000 team members of Rivers Casinos and its operating parent company, Rush Street Gaming, are banding together on Thursday, September 19^th. 

This is the second annual Rivers Gives Day of Service, when all five Rivers Casinos in four states synchronise their ongoing multifaceted community engagement programs. A common imperative—such as honouring military veterans and first responders—is selected across all markets, and an uncommon, enterprise-wide plan is then activated.

Volunteers to Enhance and Beautify Veterans Service Centres 

On Thursday, Sept. 19, team members will mobilise at Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia.

Each Rivers Casino will send volunteers to regional veterans’ service centres or first responder organisations to participate in facility enhancement and beautification efforts, such as landscaping and cleanups. Other team members will remain at the casino, devoting time and energy to assembling care packages. They also plan to make financial contributions to local veterans and first responder nonprofits. 

Rivers Casino Contributes 2,000 Volunteer Hours

Rivers Gives is Rush Street Gaming’s long-standing community outreach program. The key pillars of Rivers Gives are volunteerism, board service, donation drives, in-kind contributions, and corporate giving. Through Rivers Gives, each Rivers Casino annually contributes approximately 2,000 volunteer hours per property to local nonprofit partners. 

“Rivers Casino is proud to honour the heroes in our local communities on Rivers Gives Day and year-round, whether they’ve served in the military or arrive first on the scene during emergencies,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming. "We admire their bravery, and we’re grateful for their service.”

Rivers Give Day an Annual Event  

After 2023’s inaugural year, Rush Street Gaming was inspired by its team members to make Rivers Gives Day of Service an annual event to demonstrate appreciation and to uplift its communities. Last year’s focus was on health and wellness nonprofits. 

“Giving back to the community has long been part of our culture,” said Dawn Reynolds Pettit, chief human resources officer of Rush Street Gaming. “Coordinating this companywide effort is ambitious, and Rivers Casino team members always rise to the occasion.”  

Across their operating markets, Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming annually contribute approximately $14 million to local nonprofit partners and various community groups.  

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Partners with Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard 

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh will collaborate with Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, a nonprofit organisation that fights homelessness among US military veterans in the community, on Rivers Gives Day of Service. 

Casino teams will assist the Veterans Place team in landscaping and painting projects around the organisation’s campus. Teammates remaining on the casino property for the service day will be assembling care packages containing essential items, non-perishable snacks, and more for US military veterans.

In addition to the in-kind contributions of our team members, Rivers Casino will make a financial contribution to Veterans Place in the amount of $10,000. 

Casino guests can also get in on the giving thanks to a Rivers Gives collection box that will be prominently featured on the gaming floor. Rivers Casino will pass along any chips, uncashed slot vouchers, or currency contributions to its local nonprofit partners.