Station Casinos Announces $110,000 Donation to the Public Education Foundation and $100,000 to Three Square Food Bank to Support Las Vegas’ Children

Station Casinos announced today that the company is donating over $200,000 to two Las Vegas organizations committed to helping the valley’s children. The company is donating $110,000 to The Public Education Foundation for its “Smart Start” education program and $100,000 to Three Square Food Bank’s BackPack for Kids program.

Leaders and team members from Red Rock Resort convened at Pat Diskin Elementary School, one of the eleven Station Casinos Smart Start partner schools, with leaders from The Public Education Foundation and Three Square Food Bank for a check presentation ceremony. Additionally, Pat Diskin students, alongside school principal Regina Ballard, were on hand to select books purchased through the program, and leaders from Three Square delivered take-home meals for students through its “BackPack for Kids Program.”

“Our commitment to The Public Education Foundation and Three Square remains at the forefront of our charitable mission – it is who we are as a company,” said Bob Finch, Chief Operating of Station Casinos. “For over forty-five years, Station Casinos continues to be a community partner advocating for the education and well-being of the children in our city.”

Station Casinos’ Smart Start program in conjunction with The Public Education Foundation
Since 2000, Station Casinos has been proud of its Smart Start school partnership initiative with the Clark County School District (CCSD) administered by the Public Education Foundation to support high-need elementary schools with financial and volunteer support to help improve education and provide classroom resources. Since 2001, Station Casinos has contributed more than $2.7 million to local high-need elementary schools.

Station Casinos’ properties are paired up with an elementary school and offer year-round support, such as volunteering in classrooms, mentoring students, hosting special events and donating needed resources such as backpacks and school supplies for the students. Schools may also utilize funding to purchase technology supplies, books and periodicals, instructional supplies, and student incentives.

“We applaud Station Casinos for their investment in the Smart Start program and their long-term commitment to public education,” said Rich Broome, CEO of the Public Education Foundation. “Through their incredible support, our highest-need public schools have year-round resources that will help strengthen their school communities and increase student success.”

Station Casinos’ commitment to Three Square Food Bank’s “Backpacks for Kids”
Station Casinos’ donation to Three Square is earmarked for the organization’s “BackPack for Kids” program. Begun in 2008, “BackPack for Kids” ensures that low-income students who receive free or reduced-price school meals through CCSD continue to receive healthy food during the weekend or long breaks from school. “BackPack for Kids” provides bags of nutritious, single-serving and ready-to-eat food items to food-insecure children. Each bag of food (“backpack”) is approximately five pounds and consists of a variety of shelf-stable items that could include juice, milk, fruit cups, cereal bars, crackers, pudding, cereal and entrees.

“The holiday season isn’t always joyful for the more than 131,000 children in Southern Nevada who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Three Square Food Bank President and CEO Brian Burton. “That’s why we’re so grateful for the generosity of longtime partners like Station Casinos, who donated the equivalent of 300,000 meals for our valley’s hungry children. Thank you Station Casinos, for all that you have done and continue to do to help feed the food-insecure little ones across our valley.”