There are few places in the Hudson Valley that have as many restaurants under one roof as the Empire City Casino. The company is putting that unmatched scale and buying power to work for families who could use a helping hand.

Empire City kicked off its 2022 CSR campaign this week by partnering with the United Way of Westchester and Putnam to distribute a dozen pallets of new and unused restaurant-style glassware, dishware and kitchen items from Empire City’s eateries as part of United Way’s Essential Goods for Basic Needs program. United Way helped identify local partner nonprofits throughout the region that will use the donated items to serve families in need.

“We appreciate the generous donation from Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts to United Way’s Essential Goods for Basic Needs program,” United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Avery Zuvic said. “These items will bring a smile to so many families who are so focused on covering basic needs like food, rent, and utilities, that having access to these quality goods is a gift.”

Empire City Casino just celebrated its 15th anniversary and reached the milestone of generating over $4 billion in funds for New York schools. The largest private employer and taxpayer in Yonkers has made a commitment to addressing community needs through its charitable support of public schools, food insecurity, workforce development and environmental sustainability.

“We operate all of our MGM Resorts properties with a view towards tomorrow,” Empire City GM Ed Domingo said. “Empire City Casino is part of the fabric of this community, and we care for our communities through volunteerism and philanthropy. We build and operate thoughtfully, and we strive to create opportunity and positive outcomes wherever we are in the world. We are truly grateful to have such incredible nonprofit partners in New York.”

In the last two years of the pandemic, Empire City Casino said it has “doubled down” by supporting area nonprofits on a larger scale since MGM Resorts took over ownership of the property in early 2019. The most notable investment in the community includes a $150,000 donation to support emergency grants for first responders and essential workers through the New York State Department of Health’s nonprofit foundation, Health Research Incorporated (“HRI”), which provided $5,000 grants to cover COVID-related expenses, including healthcare costs, childcare, lodging, transportation and PPE needs.

Empire has also funded more than 100,000 meals to fight food insecurity across Yonkers, Mount Vernon, the Bronx and the Hudson Valley through donations to organizations such as Feeding Westchester, The Bronx Community Fund and World Central Kitchen.