Virginia’s Bristol Casino Donations Help Local Charities For Holidays

Virginia’s lone casino gave back for the holidays.

Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock officially presented checks to the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire and Feeding Southwest Virginia on Dec. 24.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol president Allie Evangelista said she is proud to support the groups.

“The Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire helps families across our region with a variety of vital programs and services. Feeding Southwest Virginia is a lifeline in our region for those who face food insecurity on a daily basis. The success of Hard Rock starts with our team members, and these donations would not be possible without their generous support, along with that of our Guests.”

The casino thought outside the box to come up with donations for the two organizations.

Bristol Casino basket donations back the boys and girls club

The boys and girls club earned a check for $5,920 during the ceremony. The casino also contributed a $10,000 donation the week prior during The United Company’s Annual Christmas Coffee.

“Since Day One, Hard Rock has been a supporter of The Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire,” CEO Kathy Lowdermilk said in a release.

The casino got creative when it came to raising funds for the boys and girls club. The Bristol casino’s departments each created baskets with holiday gifts. The casino members place bids, with those proceeds going directly to the club.

“Their donation of $5,920 will help provide vital programs and services to children and their families at our 4 Club sites located in Bristol, VA, Bristol, TN, Bluff City, TN and Abingdon, VA,” Lowdermilk said in a release. “We appreciate the financial support, but we are equally grateful for how generously the Hard Rock team gives of their time and talent to support our mission.  Hard Rock’s passion for service shines through in all our interactions with them.”

Creative Bristol Casino donations for Feeding Southwest Virginia, too

Feeding Southwest Virginia’s check from the casino totaled $26,690.69 on Dec. 23. Some of those proceeds came from the casino’s Team Member Dining Room and ticket boxes on the casino floor. In addition to casino staff, patrons were able to donate through those boxes to directly support Feeding Southwest Virginia.

“Once again, Hard Rock is coming through in a big way to support Feeding Southwest Virginia,” Wes Childress, Marketing & Communication Director of Feeding Southwest Virginia, said in a release. “Their donation today of $26,690.69 will help bring a brighter holiday to families across the region. The Hard Rock team has consistently been a great partner for our organization, and we are grateful for their continued support.”

The Virginia casino raised more than $37K for cancer research earlier this year

Bristol Casino donations helped the American Cancer Society raise nearly $40,000 during October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In total, the casino presented a check to the organization for $37,426.

Much like how it found a variety of ways to donate to the two local charities in December, the casino thought outside the box when raising funds for cancer research. Funds came about through team member dining room proceeds, t-shirts, a bowling night and a “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign.

What to know about Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock

As of now, it’s the state’s sole casino, albeit a temporary one.

The latest report showed the Bristol casino generated $12.65 million in revenue for the month of November. Since opening in early July, it’s just the second time the casino posted a monthly revenue below $14 million.

Keep an eye on those numbers going forward, though, as Virginia’s lone casino is about to get company.

The Rivers Casino Portsmouth is set to officially open in January. It will be the state’s first fully operational casino after it was the second to gain a license. Additionally, Danville and Norfolk will open temporary casinos.

In the meantime, the 30,000-square-foot Bristol location offers casino goers 870 slots, 21 tables and a sportsbook. The casino also offers a variety of food options.

The official Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol expects to open in the spring of 2024.