LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees of MGM
Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) more than doubled the amount of
food donated to Three Square Food Bank in the largest-ever
employee-donated canned food drive in Nevada.
Three Square reported that 922,161 pounds—more than
461 tons—of food was donated during a campaign in
October across MGM's Nevada
resorts and corporate operations. This is the fourth consecutive
year the company's food drive has set a new donation record, which
will provide 768,468 meals to the nearly 100,000 individuals Three
Square serves monthly through its 600 Program Partners.
"We are so thrilled at the outcome of this year's food drive,
which totals more food donated than the accumulation of the past
three years," said Brian Burton,
President and CEO of Three Square. "This is the most substantial
amount of food we've ever received in a single donation and our
agency partners will be so excited to see such generosity come
their way. Our partnership with MGM Resorts has been such an asset
to our organization, and we are deeply grateful for their
commitment to ending hunger in our community."
Feeding America, the leading hunger relief charity in
the United States, confirmed that
MGM Resorts' 2013 food drive is the largest single company-executed
food drive on record within its network of over 200 food banks
across the country. Three Square is a member of Feeding America,
which annually provides hunger challenged families and relief
organizations with more than three billion pounds of food and
groceries.
MGM Resorts and Three Square celebrated the milestone donation
during a special ceremony yesterday at the Three Square warehouse
where the donations are being prepared for distribution. MGM
Resorts has a history of setting new Three Square donation records,
starting in 2010 when an employee canned food drive collected 38
tons of food to benefit Three Square. Following that milestone, and
to recognize additional levels of MGM Resort support, the "MGM
Resorts Volunteer Room" was established at the food bank and has
served as a vital space to the food distribution process.
"This week we enter a season during which the word 'community'
has greater meaning. I cannot think of a better way to honor the
coming holiday than through this caring and generosity," said
Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO of
MGM Resorts International.
In addition to canned food, MGM Resorts has donated more than
$267,000 to Three Square through its
corporate giving program and the employee-funded MGM Resorts
Foundation has donated more than $162,000 since 2007. MGM Resorts has also lent
in-kind support to Three Square, including professional services
support and the time of hundreds of employee volunteers. MGM
Resorts employees have performed more than 20,000 hours of
volunteer work at Three Square since operations began.
Monday's event marks the culmination of a month-long competition
between Las Vegas MGM Resorts properties and corporate operations.
The winning property was selected by dividing the total food weight
each property donated by the number of employees at the property,
to reach the number of pounds donated per employee. Bellagio won
the competition, having raised an astounding 51.39 pounds of food
per employee. Last year's winning resort, Mandalay Bay, came in
second this year with 27.57 pounds per employee.
About Three Square Food Bank
Established in 2007 to
provide hunger relief, Three Square Food Bank offers wholesome,
nutritious food to non-profit and faith-based organizations,
schools and feeding sites that serve a wide range of Southern
Nevadans. A national model project inspired by Eric Hilton with a grant provided by the Conrad
N. Hilton Foundation, Three Square is a community collaborative
partnership with businesses, non-profit agencies, food
distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, governmental
entities, the media and thousands of volunteers to efficiently and
effectively serve hope to those in our community struggling with
hunger. Three Square currently provides more than 26 million pounds
of food and grocery product—the equivalent of more
than 21 million meals—per year to nearly 600 Program
Partners. Three Square is a member of the Feeding America network
of food banks. For additional information visit
www.threesquare.org. For the latest news and events on Three
Square, visit www.facebook.com/ThreeSquareFoodBank and follow them
on Instagram (@threesquarelv) as well as Twitter
(@threesquarelv).
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global
hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of
destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay
Bay and The Mirage. For more information about MGM Resorts
International, visit the Company's website at
www.mgmresorts.com.
SOURCE MGM Resorts International