COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MotorCity Casino Hotel is committed to helping create a healthy community through our support of programs that positively impact the quality of life in the metropolitan Detroit area. In 2003 we formalized our community outreach efforts by forming our Helping Hands committee. This group is comprised of associate volunteers from various departments and charged with recommending, as well as implementing philanthropic initiatives that make a discernible difference in our community.
Over the years, Helping Hands has dedicated thousands of man hours to advance our collective mission. In addition, they have raised tens of thousands of dollars from their fellow associates and family members.
Recent Events
Relay for Life - August, 2016
In July, MotorCity Casino Hotel hosted a fundraising event for all of its associates to honor those who have been touched by cancer. The event included live entertainment, a dunk tank, pie throwing, and a luminary ceremony. MotorCity Casino Hotel's associates were proud to have raised $50,000 for the American Cancer Society during the event. Check out some pictures here.
Partners
Kids Kicking Cancer
This non-profit helps children with cancer manage the stress and pain of their disease and treatments through personalized coaching instructed by black belt martial artists. These children achieve power, peace and purpose by using and teaching their deep breathing techniques to others to help them reduce stress..
Angels of Hope
An all-volunteer 501(c)(3) foundation, committed to making a difference in the lives of children and those who love and care for them as they battle cancer.
Mariners Inn
Every year we provide a Thanksgiving meal and summer cook-out for the residents, alumni and staff of Mariners Inn. During each event we host and serve dinner to over 150 people. In addition, we hold two clothing drives annually for their residents. Mariners Inn provides 24 hour residential, substance abuse treatment for adult, homeless men of Southeastern Michigan.p>
Gleaners Food Bank
At least twice a year, a group of MotorCity associates spend a half day sorting and packing food at Gleaners Community Food Bank. The food care packages are then sent to local food pantries to be distributed to those in need. For more than 36 years, Gleaners Community Food Bank has been "feeding hungry people and nourishing our communities.” Last year, they distributed 41 million pounds of emergency food to more than 550 partner soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties. .
Crossroad’s Soup Kitchen
Our MotorCity Casino Hotel Helping Hands committee partners annually with Crossroad’s Soup Kitchen, which is located in Detroit. Our associates prepare and serve a hearty lunch to over 700 people. Crossroads is a social service outreach agency with two locations in Detroit. Founded in 1971, Crossroads exists to support the community at large by providing emergency assistance, advocacy, and counseling to anyone in need.
Christ Child House
Every summer our Helping Hands committee hosts a summer barbeque for the boys and staff at Christ Child House. Christ Child House is a live-in facility for at-risk boys. We supply, cook and grill hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken. We also provide all of the fixings including baked beans, salads, nachos, fruits, deserts and beverages. Our group spends much of the day with the boys playing basketball, board games, and most importantly sitting down and talking with them.
Vista Maria
Every June our MotorCity Casino Helping Hands committee sponsors a prom for the girls at Vista Maria. Some of our associates volunteer their time to style the girls’ hair, apply their make-up and polish their nails. We provide a full dinner, corsages, accessories, a photographer, a DJ and chaperones. Vista Maria is a nonprofit residential care facility that delivers innovative care, support, treatment and education to vulnerable young girls and women so that they heal, believe in their worth, and build the skills needed to succeed. Many of their program participants are Detroit residents..
United Way Community Services (UWCS)
Every year MotorCity Casino Hotel partners with UWCS for an annual fundraising drive. In 2013 our associates raised $53,000. Since our inception, we have donated over $1,000,000 to UWCS, which has been shared with numerous local charities.
Covenant House Michigan
We hosted and sponsored their summer/spring graduation. We provided the site and the graduation luncheon for their graduates and their families. Gregg Solomon, our CEO, also agreed to share some words of encouragement to the group. Covenant House Michigan is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides hope to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth ages 13-22. They provide shelter, educational and vocational programs, as well as other support services, to help overcome hurdles such as homelessness, unemployment, inadequate education, violence, drugs and gangs. .
Song and Sprit Institute for Peace
Our associates donated hats, socks and gloves to some of the homeless population located in the city of Detroit. We also donated food and a fully decorated Christmas tree to this mission. The core focus of CAREVAN is carried out through the Canticle Café (Detroit). They provide an area with tables, chairs, computers, tasty treats and fresh-brewed coffee for homeless people. It’s a place where everyone is welcome, greeted with respect and dignity, offered friendship, assistance and respite from the hardships of poverty, homelessness, loneliness and fear.p>
Events
Holiday Initiative and Celebration
Every year during the holiday season the MotorCity Casino Hotel management team adopts Detroit families through an agency. Our holiday giving focuses on individuals who are financially and sometimes physically challenged. We typically adopt 25-32 individuals. They provide us with their wish lists and we fulfill their requests. All of the gifts are wrapped and presented to them during a holiday party which is held in our conference center. Our associates dress up as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and holiday elves. The event includes games, a festive lunch, a visit with Santa, gift opening and personalized pictures. It culminates with a family movie that is shown in Sound Board.We have partnered with a number of local organizations to help facilitate our holiday initiative. Past organizations include: Kids Kicking Cancer, Angels of Hope, Christ Child House, and Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Festival of Trees
At the top of every holiday season MotorCity Casino Hotel purchases 10 full size artificial trees and challenges our associates to decorate them in a fierce, fun, fundraising competition. Each team is given a stipend to be used to bring their design concept to life. Once the tree in complete, a money box is placed in front of each tree, which allows our associates and guests to vote for their favorite tree by putting money in their favorite tree’s box. We have seen great success with this campaign and are excited to donate the tree’s and funds raised to families and Detroit agencies.
Metro Detroit Youth Day
Metro Detroit Youth Day is focused on bringing together metro Detroit area youth from all walks of life. Held in July on Bell Isle, a number of MotorCity Casino Hotel associates volunteer for a day of sports, fun and constructive activities..
Back-To-School Backpack Drive
During the month of August, MotorCity Casino Hotel associates and a number of vendors rally together to donate and fill more than 250 backpacks. Students from Christ Child House, Burton International Schoo and Young Fathers Standing United are sent back to school with all of the essentials. .
Clothing Drive
Twice a year MCCH associates hold Clothing Drives. Over a ten day period we collect gently used clothing and household items, which are donated to Detroit agencies that assist men, women and children.