Rivers Gives Day of Service Unites Rivers Casinos and Local Partners to Combat Food Insecurity and Support Community Health and Human Services

Rivers Gives Day of Service Unites Rivers Casinos and Local Partners to Combat Food Insecurity and Support Community Health and Human Services
Rivers Casinos across four states come together for annual community service initiative on Sept. 15

Rivers Casinos and Rush Street Gaming will bring Team Members and community partners from across all five casino locations together for the annual “Rivers Gives Day of Service” on Tuesday, Sept. 15. This year’s Day of Service will advance Rivers Gives’ health and human services priority through efforts focused on combating food insecurity and supporting Team Member wellness.

More than 6,000 Team Members representing each Rivers Casino gaming property, plus Rush Street’s Chicago headquarters, will volunteer with nonprofit partners in their respective communities. Together, they will lend their time and efforts to support local hunger-relief efforts and help ensure individuals and families in need have access to nutritious food.

Team Members will mobilize at Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia, volunteering alongside local nonprofit partners.

Activities will include packing fresh meals and food kits, assembling care packages for children and families, sorting donated items at local food banks and preparing nutritious meals for children who may not have reliable access to food on weekends and school breaks.

Each Rivers Casino will support Team Member wellness through health fairs, blood drives, immunizations, dietitian consultations and fitness and wellness programming.

This is the fourth Rivers Gives Day of Service, an annual program that brings together Team Members across four states in support of communities in need. Following the inaugural event in 2023, Rush Street Gaming, originator and adviser of the Rivers Casino brand portfolio, was inspired by its Team Members to make the Day of Service an annual tradition. Previous initiatives have supported military veterans and first responders as well as health and wellness nonprofits, while this year’s effort focuses on addressing food insecurity as part of the broader health and human services focus.

“Our communities are at the heart of everything we do, and Rivers Gives Day of Service allows our Team Members to put that commitment into action where we live and work,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming. “We’re proud to work alongside our nonprofit partners to help connect individuals and families in need with nutritious food, health resources and community support.”

“Rivers Gives” is Rush Street Gaming’s long-standing community outreach program, with volunteerism, board service, donation drives, in-kind contributions and corporate giving among its key pillars. Through Rivers Gives, the Rivers Casinos contribute thousands of volunteer hours to local nonprofit partners each year.

Rivers Gives focuses on three imperatives to enhance the quality of life for its regional casino communities: health and human services; workforce development and economic opportunity; and support for U.S. military and veterans and first responders. The annual Day of Service is one part of that broader commitment, giving Team Members an opportunity to work directly alongside community organizations and support causes that matter in their local communities.

“Our Team Members are the driving force behind Rivers Gives Day of Service, bringing their time and energy to causes that make a meaningful difference,” said Dawn Reynolds Pettit, chief human resources officer of Rush Street Gaming. “We’re proud to see our Team Members come together with nonprofit partners to give back while also taking part in opportunities that support their health and well-being.”

Across its operating markets, Rivers Casinos and Rush Street Gaming annually contribute approximately $14 million to local nonprofit partners and various community groups.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Partners with Community Kitchen Pittsburgh

As part of Rivers Gives Day of Service, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh will team up with its longtime community partner, Community Kitchen Pittsburgh (CKP), a nonprofit committed to providing nutritious food and culinary training opportunities to individuals and families in need.

Rivers Gives volunteers will join CKP on-site Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon to assemble specialized fresh food meal packages and bring locally sourced, healthy food kits to families facing food insecurity.

Team Members will also take part in the Collaborative Digital Cookbook project, submitting favorite healthy recipes to be compiled in a digital cookbook shared across all five Rivers Casino properties. At Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, submissions will be reviewed and selected by CKP to ensure they align with the organization’s nutritional guidelines.

Also on Sept. 15, from noon to 3 p.m., CKP chefs will visit the casino to lead a Healthy Team Member Dining Room Takeover, hosting cooking demonstrations featuring recipes selected for the Collaborative Digital Cookbook and offering samples.

With the support of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), Team Members will have the additional opportunity to sign up for 15-minute one-on-one consultations with certified dietitians to discuss eating habits and personal nutrition goals, with sessions taking place on-site and print resources provided by AHN’s Primary Care Department.

Professional fitness trainer, former Cincinnati Bengal and founder of Athletic Trauma Unity Chris Edwards will be at the casino leading an interactive session on light exercises and workplace stretches, including daily step targets, parking garage and stairwell walking circuits, and quick bodyweight exercises Team Members can integrate into their workdays at Rivers Casino.

In addition to Team Member volunteer efforts and wellness programming, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh will make a $10,000 contribution to CKP.

About Rivers Casino Pittsburgh

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, located on the city’s North Shore and open 24/7, is one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier gaming and entertainment destinations. Rivers offers over 1,900 slot machines, 89 table games, 24 hybrid gaming seats, and a 26-table poker room, which holds the record for the largest bad beat jackpot in U.S. history (over $1.2 million). Home of BetRivers Sportsbook, Pittsburgh’s first and only licensed sportsbook, Rivers is the spot for any and all sports fans and bettors. Other amenities include a diverse lineup of eight distinct bars and restaurants, including Martorano’s Prime, the Italian-American steakhouse by celebrity cook Steve Martorano, and a 25,000-square-foot, second-level Event Center that hosts concerts, weddings, and more. Guests of The Landing Hotel adjacent to the casino have immediate access to the gaming floor. For additional information and current offerings, please visit RiversCasino.com/Pittsburgh.

About Rush Street Gaming

Rush Street Gaming is a leading developer of casinos in North America, having developed seven regional destination casinos. Five of these locations operate under the Rivers Casino brand. By emphasizing world-class interior and exterior design, outstanding guest experience and uplifting the communities they serve, Rivers Casino properties have earned industrywide recognition. Current locations include Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia. Together, the five Rivers Casino locations employ over 6,000 Team Members and generate more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Each Rivers Casino has been voted a “Best Place to Work” or “Top Workplace” by its Team Members. For more information, visit RushStreetGaming.com.

Media Contact:

Griffin Horner
For Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
484-683-5980
[email protected]