Queens Gazette –
Resorts World Casino New York City (RWNY) President Ryan Eller was honored at the City & State Reports Hospitality, Gaming and Tourism Awards on Tuesday, October 20. Eller received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fostering Community Engagement Through Corporate Philanthropy, Volunteerism & Emergency Preparedness, in recognition of the efforts of he and his team in giving back to their community.
In the four years since opening its doors, RWNY has donated more than $1.5 million to charities addressing a broad range of issues and needs, including education, arts and culture, and health and wellness. Eller has been at the forefront of the organization’s community giving, encouraging employees to donate, not just money, but their time as well.
“The community surrounding RWNY has been nothing but supportive from the very first day we opened our doors, and we are so grateful for that,” said Eller. “Giving back to our neighbors has always been a top priority for us. I am incredibly proud of the RWNY team for their unwavering commitment to donating their time and money to such worthy causes.”
Over the past few years, RWNY has:
• Donated $40,000 to reconstruct the Hamilton Beach Playground, which was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Casino employees and their families also helped during the rebuilding process.
• Teamed up with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation to provide its No-Cost Digital Mammograms and Clinical Breast Exams in a mobile care clinic at the casino.
• Sponsored and hosted emergency preparedness day in partnership with FEMA, Operation Hope, the American Red Cross and the NYC Office of Emergency Management last March. The organizations provided valuable tips, tools and techniques designed to minimize recovery time after a catastrophic event.
This past summer, RWNY hosted an Employee Appreciation Day to thank casino employees for the incredible job they have done in four short years. The event featured a Five Alarm FDNY Chili Cook-off which supported Friends of Firefighters, a non-profit organization that provides long-term support and services to firefighters and their families.
Cathy Hung, Executive Director for the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, has been a recipient of RWNY’s charitable giving since it opened its doors, for her work from Chinatown to Jamaica.
“Community has always been the focus of RWNY’s charitable giving, from youth outreach to job development and training, to arts and culture,” said Hung. “Through years of working with RWNY, I have seen firsthand that Ryan understands the importance of making meaningful contributions that have a true impact on the community.”
“RWNY has been a tireless advocate for the local community and a devoted partner to our organization for the past four years,” said Cedric Dew, Executive Director of the Jamaica YMCA. “I am proud to call Ryan Eller a friend, and can think of no one more deserving of this award than him. His dedication to giving back to the community is truly inspiring.”