As 2024 comes to an end, Empire City Casinos by MGM Resorts is reflecting on a year of impactful community efforts and funding support for local organizations in the Bronx and Westchester.
The casino’s employees contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to various causes across these communities, helping MGM Resorts surpass 1 million volunteer hours companywide since acquiring Empire City in 2019.
This year, Empire City participated in several meaningful initiatives. Employees partnered with Groundwork Hudson Valley to remove tons of trash and enhance the Great Saw Mill River, aligning with the casino’s sustainability goals. The team also hosted a blood drive with the New York Blood Center to address urgent blood shortages, assembled summer reading and activity kits for students through the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, and distributed food to families in need through Catholic Charities, Feeding Westchester, and Part of the Solution.
Additionally, Empire City employees joined Volunteer New York for the 9/11 Day of Service, demonstrating their commitment to honoring the day through acts of service.
Empire City employees made a significant impact by partnering with the mobile food pantry, Food Bank for New York City, to distribute meals to individuals and families in need. In addition, the MGM Resorts Foundation supported these efforts by awarding grants to the Food Bank for New York City and Feeding Westchester in 2024 as part of its commitment to addressing food insecurity.
In 2024, Empire City Casino reinforced its commitment to education by funding BronxWorks to deliver hands-on STEM programming for South Bronx children in grades K-5. The education pillar also supported financial literacy initiatives in the South Bronx through Junior Achievement of New York and contributed to sustainability education programs at Yonkers Groundwork Hudson Valley. These efforts reflect Empire City’s dedication to advancing public education programs that promote academic achievement and lifelong learning.
Additionally, Empire City provided funding to Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, enabling technology training and workforce certification programs for individuals who are visually impaired, further showcasing its investment in community empowerment and inclusion.
Some of the other organizations that Empire City provided support for in 2024 included the YMCA of Yonkers, Yonkers Partners in Education, Empowered Network, Catholic Charities Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York, Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon, Hudson River Museum, ArtsWestchester and the United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
“Delivering meaningful social impact that strengthens our communities is at the heart of Empire City’s mission, both in New York and across MGM Resorts globally,” Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts Vice President of Public Affairs Taryn Duffy said. “As colleagues, neighbors and friends, our commitment has only grown stronger. We look forward to continuing our work as stewards of community transformation in the Bronx and Westchester for generations to come.”
Empire City has also demonstrated a commitment to corporate social responsibility through generous in-kind donations. This includes a recent donation over 6,300 hygiene kits – including essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion – to Lifting Up Westchester, BronxWorks, the Guidance Center of Westchester and other local organizations. Furthermore, Empire City provided over 1,000 backpacks to students in Yonkers, Mount Vernon and the Bronx to help ensure they were prepared for the new school year.
