Kansas Star Casino donates to Futures Unlimited, other charitable organizations

Kansas Star Casino is making a significant donation to seven charities making a big impact in the south central Kansas communities it serves.

The donation of $147,113 represents Kansas Star’s share of the net gaming revenue from the recent controlled gaming exercise.  The exercise was required by the Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission as the final stage of the Kansas Star certification process and was attended by Lucky Star Players Club members and supporters from each of the selected charities. The participating charities are The Kansas Food Bank Warehouse, Dress for Success, Music Theatre of Wichita, Operation Freedom Memorial, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Mid-Kansas Affiliate, Mulvane Education Foundation and Futures Unlimited. Each charity will receive $21,016.

“Being an active part of a strong community is a core value at Kansas Star,” Said Scott Cooper, general manager of the casino. “We are happy to support these non-profit organizations that enrich and support the entire south central Kansas community.  In most cases they serve those who need it most. In the case of Music Theater of Wichita, their reach into south central Kansas schools helps promote the arts and cultural vibrancy regardless of socio-economic background.”

Futures Unlimited, Inc. provides a full-range of community-based supports for individuals with disabilities, general public transportation, and early intervention and preschool supports for families and children.

“One of the reasons Sumner County residents embraced the idea of a casino located in our county – was the promise of jobs and economic benefit for all of our county’s citizens.  This gift is evidence of the Kansas Star Casino’s intent to make good on that promise," said Tom Kohmetscher, Futures President and CEO.  "With this gift – some of our county’s residents with disabling conditions, who need a bit of help in meeting the challenges of everyday life, will realize some of the benefit of our county’s latest business partner”  

Kansas Star hosted the controlled gaming exercise December 16 to demonstrate proper casino operations and controls to satisfy the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission prior to final certification required to open. Guests of the event were allowed to take home all of their winnings from the controlled gaming exercise. The Kansas Star is donating its net gaming proceeds from the event to its charity partners.

Kansas Food Bank Warehouse serves 85 counties across Kansas by providing food to over 500 local food pantries, school programs and food banks including the Wellington Food Bank. Donations for Kansas Food Bank Warehouse are down 10-15% in 2011, while continuing economic challenges has increased the level of need for assistance for many communities.

“We are very happy to see such strong and immediate participation in our community by the Kansas Star,” said Brian Walker, president of Kansas Food Bank Warehouse.

Dress for Success Wichita serves women across south central Kansas, working with 78 job training agencies to ensure that women have access to professional wardrobes as they enter the workforce.    The Kansas Star donation of $21,016, one of the largest in the groups’ history, will enable Dress for Success to launch a new scholarship program to assist women in obtaining their Graduation Equivalency Diploma (GED).  Dress for Success will assist more than 15,000 women across south central Kansas in 2012 with clothing, resume writing and education.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by the Kansas Star,” said Pat Jones, executive director at Dress for Success Wichita. “We are so glad to be partnered with an organization that itself has put so many jobs back into our community.”
Operation Freedom Memorial is raising $200,000 to construct a memorial dedicated to the men and women of Kansas who have lost their lives in the U.S. war against terrorism since 1991. The Kansas Star donation of $21,016, their largest single contribution ever, will move Operation Freedom Memorial past the halfway mark in construction fundraising which began in June 2010.

Komen for the Cure Mid-Kansas serves women in 95 Kansas counties in the fight against breast cancer with grants to local programs. Music Theatre of Wichita trains local students interested in the arts, entertains audiences drawn from across south central Kansas and regularly takes its show on the road to schools, nursing homes and churches across the region.

Mulvane Education Foundation, Inc. is an endowment to benefit students and teachers in USD263. Their mission is to enhance education for USD 263 students by funding scholarships, classroom needs and programs through annual giving.

Distributions from the controlled demonstration to south central Kansas charities are just the beginning of Kansas Star Casino’s community impact in the region. Kansas Star will fund education to the tune of $1.5 million dollars each year in Sumner County. Kansas Star’s Ad Astra All-Star Scholars Fund will provide Sumner County families a $100 educational reward card that can be used at area merchants to purchase school supplies for each student. Each graduating high school senior from Sumner County is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship toward their post-secondary education. Plus, Ad Astra will further Kansas Star’s commitment to education in Sumner County by providing $500 to each teacher to use for school supplies in Sumner County schools each year.

For more information, visit www.kansasstarcasino.com.