Thirty children’s charities from southeastern Wisconsin are celebrating tonight after Potawatomi Bingo Casino announced they raised $981,273 during the 2012 Miracle on Canal Street program. Each charity will receive $32,709.
Miracle on Canal Street is the Casino’s signature charitable program. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for children in southeastern Wisconsin. Money for the program is raised primarily through special Miracle bingo games and the generosity of Potawatomi Bingo Casino guests. The funds have been accumulating throughout the year and the 2012 total was revealed during an event tonight in the Casino’s Nest of Life Bingo Hall.
“Every holiday season I am humbled to be a part of the Miracle on Canal Street program,” said Melanie Martin, Bingo director at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. “It warms my heart to see these charitable organizations provide critical services and hope to younger generations.”
Twenty of those 30 benefiting charities were randomly selected immediately after the fund-raising total was announced. They include:
Beckum-Stapleton Little League,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County,
Center for Communication, Hearing & Deafness,
The Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse of
Washington County,
Discovery World Ltd.,
The Family Center of
Washington County,
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast,
HALO, Inc. (Homeless
Assistance Leadership
organization),
Images of Us (IOU) Sports,
Kenosha Symphony
Association,
Milwaukee Chamber
Theatre, Ltd.,
Milwaukee Symphony
Orchestra,
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra,
Playworks Milwaukee,
Prevention & Protection of Abused Children, Inc.,
Rosalie Manor Community & Family Services,
St. Vincent de Paul Society,
Team Up! with Families, Inc.,
Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic,
Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph Foundation,
Ten signature charities were announced by Potawatomi Bingo Casino in August after they were chosen by the program’s media partners. Those charities and their media partners include:
• Adoption Resources of Wisconsin – presented by Lamar Outdoor
• Betty Brinn Children’s Museum – presented by Entercom Radio
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee – presented by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington County – presented by Clear Channel Media + Entertainment
• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – presented by Clear Channel Outdoor
• Make-A-Wish Wisconsin – presented by WITI FOX 6
• Milwaukee Bicycle Collective – presented by OnMilwaukee.com
• Penfield Children’s Center – presented by Milwaukee Radio Group
• Pathfinders – presented by WISN TV 12
• Special Olympics Wisconsin – presented by Journal Broadcast Group
The organizations benefitting from tonight’s contributions will use Miracle on Canal Street funds to improve young lives in our community by making sure children have a place to sleep, eat and play – from educational services to emergency shelter, from adoptive services to extracurricular activities. Penfield Children’s Center will use the funds to provide medical monitoring and specialized services for infants and toddlers in their Special Care Nursery.
“The children we serve face incredible challenges with health and education issues, as well as economic hardships,” said Christine Holmes, President and CEO of Penfield Children’s Center. “The funds we receive from Miracle on Canal Street will go a long way toward improving their quality of life and chances for future success.”
For the first time this year, funds were also raised through ticket sales in the Northern Lights Theater and its popular Tribute to the King competition, as well by guests who ordered special menu items in the Casino’s restaurants.
Potawatomi Bingo Casino continues to make a significant positive economic impact on both the state and local communities through tribal revenue sharing and support of local charities and community organizations. “Caring for the Community” is one of five key areas of focus that serve as the foundation for the Casino’s social responsibility efforts entitled Building on a Tradition of Responsibility.
Eligible charities applied during a call for entry period which closed in June. Eligible organizations must have 501(c) (3) status, serve a primary client base of children younger than 18 and be located within Milwaukee, Racine, Washington, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Sheboygan or Walworth counties.
A complete list of submission guidelines is available at www.paysbig.com/miracle.