KINGSTON — The Point Casino presented a check for $46,816.93 to the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter Dec. 18.
The donation exceeded the previous year’s fundraising efforts and made 2014 the most successful charity year in the casino’s history, according to a press release.
Becky Moore, Executive Director of the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter, received the donation.
“The Point Casino’s support of local families who have been touched by ALS is so encouraging to the ALS community,” Moore said. “These funds will not only contribute to ALS specific research to find meaningful treatments and a cure, but will also go towards local support group and caregiver programs.”
Last year was a year of ALS awareness, with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the recent critical acclaim for the Stephen Hawking biopic “The Theory of Everything.”
“When choosing the ALS Association as our charity partner for 2014, we could only dream of the amount of attention the association would receive in the past year, which only aided in our fundraising efforts,” said Leo Culloo, general manager of The Point Casino. “It is an honor and privilege that our biggest contribution ever has gone to this important cause.”
The key to success was getting everyone involved and passionate about the project at the very beginning and maintaining motivation through constant encouragement, Culloo said. “Our employees became so inspired by the cause, that many chose to make frequent small donations straight from their own paychecks every month,” Culloo said.
In August, The Point Casino held its fifth annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Lakeland Golf Course in Allyn. With the support of vendors and attendance of nearly 150 golfers, who all broke out their golf clubs in honor of the ALS Association, almost $30,000 was raised.
The community continued to come together in full force, donating about $13,000 with the bonus bucks and point donation options at The Point Casino. A charity partner for The Point Casino is chosen every year. Since opening in 2002, The Point Casino has been involved in working with numerous charitable organizations, such as the American Heart Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation and American Diabetes Association.
“At The Point Casino, we pride ourselves on being able to help the community and do what we can to make a difference and inspire the same generosity in others,” Culloo said. “Our goal remains the same as with any business venture the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe gets involved with; that is to make things a little better than they were.”
The Point Casino is owned and operated by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. It opened in 2002. It is located on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe reservation in Kingston. It features table games, restaurants, buffet, cigar room, nightclub, deli, and a diverse mix of slot machines.
