Magic City Casino, Miami’s first casino to offer Las Vegas style slot machines, donated a total of more than $15,000 to three local charities in the opening weeks of 2013.
The funds donated were generated from loose change left inside slot machines by patrons and collected throughout 2012 by the casino. The three charitable recipients were Best Buddies of Southwest Miami Senior High School ($7,000), the Miami Rescue Mission ($7,000) and the Officer Duncan Kidson (ODK) Food Pantry ($3,675). The organizations selected were nominated and voted upon by Magic City Casino’s managing directors.
“As a family-owned local casino, Magic City Casino is happy to support those organizations doing good in our community, including the Miami Rescue Mission, Best Buddies of Southwest Miami Senior High School and the Officer Duncan Kidson Food Pantry,” said Scott Savin, chief operating officer of Magic City Casino. “We are happy to use small change left behind for a greater good and to see the value it will bring to the community.”
Pairing high school students and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Best Buddies allows students to have friends outside of their special education classrooms. Best Buddies cultivates these one-to-one friendships by introducing programs to public and private high schools such as the one at Southwest Miami Senior High and breaking the barrier that too often separates those with disabilities from those without.
“This donation will allow us to purchase technological tools for our students and teachers including laptops and iPads,” said Celeste Sadler, National Board Certified Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher at Southwest Miami Senior High School. “We are so appreciative for the help this lends us. Thank you, Magic City Casino.”
The Miami Rescue Mission has provided comprehensive services to the homeless and needy of Miami-Dade and Broward counties since 1922. In 2012, the Miami Rescue Mission provided more than 850,000 meals and over 340,000 nights of emergency shelter among other services.
The Officer Duncan Kidson (ODK) Food Pantry in South Miami-Dade County was opened to distribute food to needy families in the area and provide spiritual counseling. The food pantry was named after Officer Duncan Kidson, the son of one of Bay Community Church’s founding members, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2010. As a decorated Miami-Dade Police Officer, Officer Duncan Kidson served his community for nine years. The amount donated, $3,675, will allow the ODK Food Pantry to distribute enough food for three months.
Magic City Casino features 800 Las Vegas-style slot machines, 19-table Poker Room, outdoor concert amphitheater, multi-purpose indoor venue, seasonal live greyhound racing and multiple food and beverage outlets, among other state-of-theart amenities. The casino is open every day (Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.; Friday and Saturday,10 a.m. to 5 a.m.).
For more information, visit online at www.magiccitycasino.com
