VOL 26 ISSUE 51, Dec. 22, 2025
Main caption: Trent Troxel (second from left), vice president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, and representatives of Delaware North – David Frankhouser (far left), chief gaming and development officer; David Kopasz (far right), chief hospitality officer for gaming; and Mark Juliano (third from right), director of marketing – present an estimated $15,000 worth of toys to representatives of the regional Toys for Tots campaigns for York County in South Carolina and Cleveland County in North Carolina and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, which operates the program nationwide.
The holidays are a busy time for Delaware North team members serving guests around the globe, but they continue to make time to give back and support their communities. Highlights of recent charitable giving and volunteer efforts across our locations are below.
Feeding Braves country
Delaware North, the hospitality partner for the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, worked with the MLB team during its annual Season of Giving presented by Truist Bank.
In response to rising food insecurity, Delaware North collaborated with the Braves, City of Atlanta, local schools and nonprofits to provide warm meals and holiday cheer to families in need. From Dec. 2 to Dec. 18, Delaware North volunteers, led by Truist Park Executive Chef Jaco Dreyer, prepared and distributed nearly 15,000 meals across Metro Atlanta.
Corporate headquarters provide gifts to six local families
Delaware North team members at corporate headquarters adopted six families this holiday season through local three Buffalo-area organizations:
- Four families from Child and Family Services
- One family from Gateway Longview
- One family from Say Yes Buffalo
Team members shopped for 29 individuals, purchasing approximately 200 gifts. The company is also a $5,000 sponsor of Child and Family Services’ Adopt-a-Family program.
Gifts included basic needs (toiletries, socks, winter coats); household items (toaster ovens, microwaves); electronics (learning tablets, video games); and a variety of toys for children of all ages.
Media coverage included Yahoo News, WIVB and WGRZ.
Bringing warmth and comfort to Boston
Over 100 Boston Bruins, TD Garden, Sportservice, Rapid7, TD Bank and Special Olympics of Massachusetts employees volunteered at the Feed the Funnel event on Dec. 16. This event is hosted by Encore Boston Harbor, which helps provide meals to local food banks and pantries. The team filled over 112,000 packed meals in just under two hours.
The Boston Bruins Foundation and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) Foundation during the month of December held their 8th annual Operation Warm coat drive, a heartfelt initiative dedicated to helping children in need across Massachusetts. Each year, this program provides brand-new winter essentials such as coats and hats to ensure that every child can stay warm during the harsh New England winter.
This year marks a significant milestone for Operation Warm. The organizations are expanding their efforts, committing $105,000 toward the purchase of high-quality winter gear. This increased investment means more children will receive brand-new coats, hats and other essentials, offering comfort and protection during the cold months ahead.
Gaming team members and guests donate to local toy drives
Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, N.C., on Dec. 8 donated hundreds of toys – valued at $15,000 – to the regional Toys for Tots campaign to provide holiday toys to children in York County in South Carolina and Cleveland County in North Carolina.
Delaware North, which is the developer for the permanent casino project and the gaming and hospitality consultant to the Catawba Nation, contributed $5,000 to the campaign to buy toys, supplementing those donated by the casino, its guests, team members and gaming machine supplier.
Team members from Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, Delaware North’s gaming location in Farmington, N.Y., are pictured after purchasing more than $6,500 worth of gifts for children in the Ontario County foster care program.
For the 22nd consecutive year, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., held its Points for Kids campaign, which encouraged guests to donate rewards points for the cause. More than 600 Lucky North Rewards members participated, raising more than $6,500, allowing team members from Finger Lakes to purchase gifts for 64 children in the Ontario County foster care program.
Pictured after delivering gifts to the Amherst Fire Department in New Hampshire, are Gate City Casino team members Cindy Ceurvels (center), compliance coordinator; Lisa Gentile (fourth from right), engagement and development manager; Laura McDowell (third from right), cage supervisor; and Alexandra Silva (second from right), assistant cage manager.
In December, Gate City Casino, located in Nashua, N.H., collected more than 100 toys from guests during its holiday toy drive. Team members from Gate City delivered the donations to the Amherst Fire Department as part of the Southern New Hampshire Toys for Tots campaign, which will support thousands of local children this year.
Leaders from Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, including President and General Manager Kim Florence (front row, left), in mid-December purchased gifts to fulfill the wish lists of several location children.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in West Virginia held its 10th annual Salvation Army toy drive, collecting more than 600 toys for local children.
“It’s a really great opportunity for us to not only be a part of giving back, but to share in what the Salvation Army is trying to do with their services,” Wheeling Island President and General Manager Kim Florence said in an interview with local television station WTRF.
Wheeling Island also fulfilled the wish lists of several children through the WISH Giving Tree program. A dedicated group of team members hit the aisles of a local store, purchasing items such as toys and clothing, to ensure every child’s wish list was fulfilled.
Parks and Resorts division supports local organizations serving communities near national and state parks
Delaware North, whose Parks and Resorts division operates lodging and other visitor services in and near several national parks, recently provided support to nonprofit organizations that fight food insecurity in those regions.
The support, which was inspired by increased needs in communities whose economies were impacted by the federal government shutdown this fall, reflects Delaware North’s commitment to assist nonprofit organizations in the communities where it operates.
Brett Archer, general manager for Delaware North at Tenaya at Yosemite (second from right) is pictured with representatives from Mariposa Safe Families, from left to right, Becky Coburn, lead prevention specialist; Megan Atkinson, executive director; and Stephanie Orozco, parent educator, during the delivery of a donation on behalf of Delaware North to the organization.
In total, the company gave $32,250 in cash donations to eight different food banks:
- Yosemite region (Tenaya at Yosemite): Mariposa Heritage House, Mariposa Safe Families and Manna House of Mariposa County ($2,500 each)
- Yellowstone region (Yellowstone General Stores and Yellowstone Vacations lodging and tours): West Yellowstone Food Bank, Gardiner Food Pantry and Jackson Cupboard ($5,000 each)
- Grand Canyon region (Yavapai Lodge, Trailer Village RV Park and The Squire at Grand Canyon): Grand Canyon Food Pantry ($5,000)
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon region (Wuksachi Lodge, John Muir Lodge and other lodging): Three Rivers Bread Basket ($5,000)
Delaware North’s operations at Niagara Falls State Park, which includes food and beverage and retail services, raised $6,244 for the Niagara Falls Community Mission through their annual round-up for charity campaign at locations throughout the park.