Online casinos and community engagement are gaining traction as Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite, Nevada, recently announced its sponsorship of an elementary school reading program. This unique initiative highlights the growing trend of gambling businesses supporting educational endeavors, similar to various gambling legislation reforms.
Mesquite Reads, now in its 11th year, was launched by the Eureka Community Initiative and aims to serve 100 children in grades kindergarten through fourth at J.L. Bowler Elementary School in Bunkerville. Eureka Casino Resort CEO Andre Carrier emphasized that the project reflects the core values of the company, focusing on creative collaboration and compassionate service.
Fostering Literacy: A Key to Community Growth
The Mesquite Reads program is strategically devised to ensure children read at grade level by third grade. Since its inception in 2014, it has benefitted over 1,500 students, thanks to contributions of $291,488 from the Eureka Community Initiative. The program also distributes thousands of free books through community events, enhancing literacy and educational access.
This summer’s four-week session, running from May 27 to June 18, emphasizes small-group instruction, featuring classes of 10 to 15 students. Each session begins with a nutritious breakfast followed by outdoor activities, leading into focused literacy sessions tailored to different age groups.
The Impact of Online Casinos and Community Engagement
As part of the program, younger students concentrate on sight words, fluency, and reading comprehension, while older students delve into storytelling and writing. The curriculum eventually transitions to personalized math instruction with the day concluding in unique activities like loom-knitting hats for NICU babies.
Super Summer School Spaghetti Thursdays offers a platform for Eureka employee-owners and community partners to engage directly with the program, having served more than 800 spaghetti lunches. Gerri Chasko, Director of Eureka Community Initiative, shared that this effort demonstrates meaningful academic growth to donors.
The initiative is deeply rooted in the company’s commitment to its hometown since the Eureka Community Initiative began in 2012. Eureka Casino Resort, 100% employee-owned since 2015, has consistently supported over 50 community programs. Carrier explained that programs like Mesquite Reads go beyond mere philanthropy, becoming a personal endeavor for employee-owners whose children attend local schools.
For more insights on the intersection of gambling and community initiatives, visit the American Gaming Association’s website.
