JACK Entertainment matches guests’ kiosk donations to give $50,000 to four Cleveland charities

JACK Entertainment, with the support of their dedicated guests, has donated $50,000 to four Cleveland non-profits through their kiosk donation program.

As part of JACK Entertainment’s “Born Here. Raised Here.” initiative to support, champion, and bring together the businesses and people of the city in which the gaming company calls home, JACK implemented a kiosk donation program to provide the opportunity for their guests to be involved as well. Beginning in the spring of 2021, guests of JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino were able to donate their unplayed slot funds to the local charities, CANTER Ohio, DigitalC, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital while cashing out at any property kiosk.

Over the last year, JACK guests embraced the program and donated over $24,000 on their own to these local charities. Inspired by the passion JACK guests showed for the community, the gaming company has matched the donations to a total of $50,000 to be donated across the four charities. These funds will go directly toward the support of the organizations’ individual missions that ultimately work to make the Greater Cleveland area a stronger and more vibrant community for all.

“JACK has always had exceptional guests, and are humbled to see them embrace our collective efforts to give back to our home city of Cleveland,” said Mark Dunkeson, Chief Executive Officer of JACK Entertainment. “It has always been a part of our mission to not just provide unmatched entertainment destination experiences but to serve the communities in which we reside, and we are honored to call upon the support of the thousands of guests that enter our properties each day and have such a resounding response.”

Guests visiting JACK properties can continue to participate in the kiosk donation program as donations for these organizations are now being accepted for 2022 on all property kiosks.

JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino donated 1,760 bags filled with items to support Greater Cleveland area children and vulnerable populations

JACK Entertainment donated more than 1,700 bags filled with needed items to Greater Cleveland area hospitals and homeless shelters ahead of the holiday season as part of the Ohio-based gaming company’s annual ThanksGIVING donation.

Team members from both JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino spent the day delivering bags to children at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and Ahuja Medical Center, as well as to the area organizations that serve the homeless population, City Mission, West Side Catholic Center, and Cleveland Clinic’s South Pointe Hospital.

Leading up to the donation day, JACK team members dedicated their time to ensure each bag was filled with items to support the recipients. The children’s bags were filled with coloring books and crayons to help provide a sense of comfort, home, and an enjoyable activity during their hospital stay. To assist those facing Cleveland’s cold winter months JACK filled bags for those in need with winter hats, gloves, and socks.

“At JACK it is equally as important for us to be a leader within our community as it is for us to be a leader within our industry,” said Mark Dunkeson, Chief Executive Officer of JACK Entertainment. “We are honored to be able to serve the community that we call home and are grateful for our dedicated team members who help us fulfill this mission. We are thankful for the great organizations that have allowed us to support the work they do every day to assist those in need and hope our efforts can help bring a sense of comfort to those they serve this holiday season.”

JACK Entertainment will incentivize team members to get the COVID-19 vaccination through cash rewards and prize giveaways totaling over $100,000

JACK Entertainment, Ohio’s gaming operator of JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino, plans to give away up to $100,000 cash to incentivize its team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to better protect their workforce, their guests, and the greater Cleveland community in which the company is headquartered.

“We have seen the positive effects of vaccinations on slowing the spread, lowering the risk of serious illness and hospitalizations, and ultimately bringing us closer to the end of this pandemic,” said Mark Dunkeson, Chief Executive Officer of JACK Entertainment. “Through our incentive program, we want to reward our team members who have chosen to become vaccinated, benefiting not only themselves, but their loved ones, our guests, and our community.”

The “Vax for Stacks” campaign will run now through Thursday, October 28, 2021. The program will provide vaccinated team members several opportunities to receive cash for proof of vaccination from immediate cash rewards upon vaccine verification to drawings featuring cash prizes. With this incentive program, JACK hopes to significantly increase their team member vaccination rate, and as more team members receive the vaccine, the more money the company will give away.

 
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JACK will also be providing team members convenient access to the vaccine by offering onsite vaccinations through a collaboration with Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, the incentive initiative will include vaccination education with the “Get The Vax, JACK” campaign to ensure all team members are aware of the benefits behind the COVID-19 vaccine to confidently make their choice in becoming vaccinated.

JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino donated 700 turkeys to Greater Cleveland area food pantries to help celebrate Thanksgiving Holiday

JACK Entertainment donated 700 turkeys to 14 Greater Cleveland area food pantries ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a donation that totaled more than 8,300 lbs of turkey.

For a second year in a row, team members from both JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino spent the day delivering turkeys to food pantries across the Greater Cleveland area spanning from Mentor to North Olmstead. This year’s donation increased to 700 individual turkeys adding up to 8,318 lbs. The donations were delivered ahead of the the pantries’ holiday food distributions which will serve community members in need to ensure they too can enjoy a holiday meal this season.

“As a local company serving Cleveland, JACK is committed to supporting the people that call this place home,” said Chad Barnhill, Chief Operating Officer of JACK Entertainment. “We are honored to be able to support these great organizations that work every day to assist those in need and hope that our contribution to their efforts can help Cleveland families, especially this year, find joy in a holiday meal this season.”

The food pantries that received donations included Beulah Baptist Church of Collinwood, Cooley Ave Church of God, Eastlake Kiwanis, Euclid Hunger Task Force, Lee Seville Miles Hunger Center, North Olmstead Food Pantry, Our Savior Lutheran Church, People’s Community Church, Salvation Army Temple Corp, St. John Vianney, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Vincent de Paul, Vineyard Community Church, and West 58th St. Church of God.

JACK Entertainment announced today Kathryn M. Hall, CPD has joined the company as vice president of diversity and inclusion, pending regulatory approvals. In her new role, Hall will lead the development and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for the Cleveland-based gaming company.

“We are excited to welcome Kathryn to the JACK Family as her extensive background and impressive expertise in the field of diversity and inclusion, both professionally and personally, will be a valuable addition to our leadership team,” said Brian Eby, President of JACK Entertainment. “Kathryn’s passion for her work, proven through her award-winning career, will contribute prominently to JACK Entertainment as we continue to make our industry leading gaming company a great place to work and play.”

Hall, a Cleveland native, brings more than two decades of diversity and inclusion experience to her new role. She joins JACK Entertainment from Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District where she was Chief Diversity Officer, earning the organization numerous awards for its work in the area of diversity, both locally and nationally. Previously, Hall served as the Chief Diversity Officer for both Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Community College.

Hall holds a Master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Diversity Management from Cleveland State University. She is a Certified Diversity Professional, has been certified by the NTL, Washington, D.C. with a Specialization in Diversity Management, and holds a certification as an Executive Coach from the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

Committed to the Northeast Ohio community she calls home, Hall dedicates her time out of the office to serve as a mentor and champion to business professionals, women and young professionals, including acting as Board Chair for The Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland, Board Member for the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival; The Commission on Economic Inclusion; The United Black Fund of Cleveland; and The UNCF of Northeast Ohio.

JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino to donate more than 4,000 pounds of fresh food product to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank

JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino will donate more than 4,000 pounds of fresh food items to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank amid the Ohio Gaming Company’s closure. While the doors remain closed, the gaming properties’ pantries have opened as unused food items from the casino and racino’s dining establishments will be shared with the food bank to assist in their demands during these uncertain times.

On Wednesday, March 18 the food bank arrived at JACK Thistledown Racino to receive four pallets filled with milk, cheese, eggs, lettuce, mushrooms, asparagus, spinach and tomatoes, among other dairy and produce items. The food bank will make its way to JACK Cleveland Casino on Thursday, March 19 to receive an additional two pallets of similar items, totaling over 4,000 pounds of food.

“As the Cleveland Community comes to terms with the evolving health crisis in the state of Ohio and across the country, the JACK family saw the opportunity to be able to support our neighbors during this time of need,” said Chad Barnhill, Chief Operating Officer of JACK Entertainment. “While our doors may be temporarily closed, we wanted to ensure our resources were being used to support the community we call home.”