MGM Resorts Foundation awards $4.6m to local charities

The MGM Resorts Foundation has awarded more than $4.6m in grants to 211 nonprofit organizations across communities where MGM Resorts employees live and work, with funding supported by contributions from employees and guests.

The grants will support organizations in Nevada, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, as well as the greater Washington DC, metropolitan area. The recipients include local grassroots nonprofits and organizations operating across multiple communities where MGM Resorts has a presence.

Employees also participated in the selection process through the foundation's Community Grant Councils. This year, 87 council members reviewed hundreds of applications and helped identify organizations addressing local needs.

María José Gatti, VP of Philanthropy at MGM Resorts, said: "What makes the Foundation special is that our employees are invested in this work in every sense. They contribute their own dollars, understand the needs in their communities and help ensure those dollars reach organizations making a real difference. It's a model that puts our employees, and the communities they call home, at the heart of our giving."

Among this year's recipients, Shoes That Fit, which provides athletic shoes and other essentials to children facing financial hardship, received support in five regions. Gamers Outreach, which provides therapeutic gaming experiences to hospitalized children, received funding in six regions.

The Community Grant Councils also give employees an opportunity to assess applications directly and consider the needs of organizations in their communities. Council members from Southern Nevada and the greater Washington area described the process as providing a closer view of the work carried out by local nonprofits.

The MGM Resorts Foundation is funded through contributions from employees and guests, with employees also involved in reviewing applications and selecting recipients through the council process.