MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL, PARENT COMPANY OF NEW YORK’S EMPIRE CITY CASINO, RELEASES ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

More than five years after MGM Resorts acquired Empire City- which boasts the largest casino floor in the MGM Resorts portfolio- the global entertainment company continues to deliver meaningful social impact to local communities.

Yonkers, NY – MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) (“MGM Resorts” or the “Company”) recently announced the publication of its 2023 Social Impact and Sustainability Report detailing the Company’s continuing and steadfast commitment to its Social Impact and Sustainability principles of embracing humanity, protecting the planet, and building a legacy for generations to come. The report highlights strategies, programs and performance focused on creating a more sustainable future and making a positive impact on the lives of employees, guests, and communities.

“Our people are the foundation of our company and its enduring heritage and culture,” said Jyoti Chopra, Chief People, Inclusion and Sustainability Officer. “It is through the steadfast commitment of our teams at all our properties and locations that we have been able to make great strides in environmental sustainability, philanthropy and diversity, equity and inclusion in 2023.”

Highlights of the report includethe company’s culture of MGM Resorts employees giving and volunteering with more than 82,000 volunteer hours donated and more than $20 million in collective grants and charitable contributions to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Initiatives include the use of innovative technologies for advancing water stewardship through collaboration with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, WaterStart and the Las Vegas Grand Prix, recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy for achieving energy savings goals as a partner in the Better Buildings Challenge and MGM Resorts’ celebrating 20 years of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City with investments in local nonprofit organizations that provide workforce development opportunities. 

As a member of the MGM Resorts portfolio, Empire City Casino in New York, is equally committed to social impact and sustainability initiatives that benefit the greater-New York region, including communities throughout Yonkers, Mount Vernon, the Bronx and beyond. Each year, numerous charitable organizations receive grants and in-kind donations demonstrating hundreds of thousands of dollars to support programming in the company’s focus areas and philanthropic pillars of public education, food insecurity and workforce development. 

Community volunteerism is a paramount focus at MGM Resorts, with the company goal set to exceed 1.12 million employee volunteer hours by 2025, achieved in early 2023. Empire City team members have volunteered over 2,000 hours to local nonprofit organizations since joining the MGM Resort portfolio in 2019. Empire City has received various recognitions for their commitment to the local community including the Business Support Award from Youth Community Action Program in Mount Vernon, Community Service Award from United Way of Westchester & Putnam Valley and are proud to be a Volunteer New York! Corporate Champion. 

As communities continue to face rising inflation, nonprofit organizations are increasingly more reliant on volunteers to successfully deliver critical services and meet the growing needs of area families. Empire City volunteer efforts include facilitating backpack drives for students as they head back to school, graffiti cleanup initiatives across various communities in the Bronx, assembling reading kits for students, cleaning up the Saw Mill River on Earth Day, friendly cooking competitions to support youth programs, Feeding Westchester’s Annual Golden Scoop event, pop-up food pantries in Yonkers and the Bronx and over the past 10 years, donating time each summer to facilitate one of the largest simultaneous ALS Ice Bucket Challenges in the world, an event co-founded by the late Yonkers native Pat Quinn which has generated billions of dollars in donations for ALS research. 

Workforce development is one of three primary philanthropic focus areas of the company with a goal to provide tools and resources needed for individuals to successfully enter the workforce and develop careers. Empire City Casino supports such programs through area organizations including Greyston Foundation, ArtsWestchester, BronxWorks, Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and The Guidance Center of Westchester, along with VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. 

Another focus is food insecurity with Empire City providing support for food deserts in Westchester and Bronx communities and providing residents access to fresh locally-sourced food. Area nonprofits receiving funding from Empire City to implement programming include Feeding Westchester, New York City Food Bank, Yonkers Family YMCA, Yonkers Community Action Program, Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, and Catholic Charities. 

Empire City also provides ongoing support of public education programs to facilitate academic success of area students. The Youth Community Outreach Program of Mount Vernon, a certified childcare provider which helps provide families with equitable access to much-needed childcare and educational programs, along with ArtsWestchester, Untermyer Performing Arts Council, United Way of Westchester & Putnam, Bronx Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Yonkers Partners in Education, and others were grant recipients to support educational programming.  

Empire City is also committed to sustainability efforts and has provided financial support for organizations such as Groundwork Hudson Valley, which creates sustainable environmental change in urban neighborhoods through community-based partnerships that promote equity, youth leadership, and economic opportunity. Empire City team members have volunteered dozens of hours cumulatively to help remove hundreds of bags worth of garbage from the Saw Mill River as part of an annual Earth Day initiative.  Empire City has implemented a comprehensive water management program to maintain water quality and safety throughout the property. 

“Social impact and stewardship are at the forefront of what we do at Empire City in New York, and MGM Resorts globally,” said Taryn Duffy, Vice President of Public Affairs at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. “We are colleagues, neighbors, and friends, and our commitment to community is unwavering. To be part of a company with aligned corporate values is a source of pride. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and we are just getting started.”

Empire City will soon announce the next round of grant recipients to continue its commitment of supporting local organizations and nonprofits delivering key resources and programs to communities throughout the Bronx, Westchester and beyond. 

For more information on Empire City, please visit www.empirecitycasino.com. 

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About Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts

Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the northeast. Featuring nearly 4,700 of the hottest slots, electronic three card poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and sic bo table games, Empire City Casino also offers guests year-round harness racing and international simulcasting; live entertainment including the best party, tribute, and Latin bands; New York’s hottest DJ’s, and more. A selection of dining options will satisfy even the most discerning palate with fan-favorite fare at The Pub, and convenient delicious options at Lil’ Cocina and the Big Kitchen International Food Court. Visit Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts located at 810 Yonkers Avenue (off I-87 at Central Avenue) Yonkers, NY, Westchester County, open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Empire City Casino is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). For more information, visit www.empirecitycasino.com or call 914.968.4200. 

About MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts 

International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 31 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company’s 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers U.S. sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet” philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram. 

Media Contacts:              

Maria Cray, Maria@nicholaslence.com, (508) 245-6564

Josh Knoller, Josh@nicholaslence.com, (201) 294-9586