Sky River Casino has announced the recipients of funding from its fourth annual Wreaths of Hope program, a community initiative that combines customer participation with charitable giving during the holiday season.
The 2025 edition of the program saw 10 nonprofit organizations from the Elk Grove and Sacramento County area invited to decorate wreaths that were displayed throughout the casino in December.
Sky River Rewards members were then able to vote for their preferred entries, with a total of 41,495 votes recorded across the campaign.
Each participating charity received a base donation of $2,000, with additional funding awarded to the three organizations that received the highest number of votes.
The Elk Grove Food Bank finished first and received a total of $4,500, followed by Paws for a Purpose with $3,500 and the Cosumnes Firefighters Community Support Foundation with $3,000.
The remaining participating organizations were Asian Resources, Chicks in Crisis, End of Watch Fund, My Sister’s House, Project R.I.D.E., Runnin’ with Rhett and Wilton Animal Rescue.
Michael J. Facenda, President of Sky River Casino, said: “We are proud to connect with the community in this meaningful way that has resulted in donations totaling $80,000 for the nonprofit community over the last four years.”
Facenda added that the voting element of the program allows casino patrons to play an active role in determining how funds are allocated across local causes.
The Wreaths of Hope initiative forms part of a broader trend among gaming operators using customer engagement programs to support charitable activity at a local level.
In many jurisdictions, operators have increasingly emphasized community-focused initiatives alongside core gaming operations, particularly during peak holiday periods.
While such programs are typically positioned around seasonal engagement, they also reflect a wider industry effort to demonstrate social contribution amid continued regulatory scrutiny around responsible gambling and community impact.
Charity-linked initiatives have remained prominent across the global gambling sector. Earlier this month, Flutter-owned bookmaker Paddy Power disclosed more than £1.1m ($1.4m) in donations generated through promotional activity tied to the 2025 World Darts Championship, alongside a separate contribution supporting awareness of a rare medical condition.
The announcements came during a period of increased regulatory focus on social responsibility standards within the industry.
Sky River Casino launched the Wreaths of Hope program in 2022 and has increased total contributions each year, with cumulative donations now standing at $80,000 to local nonprofit organizations
