Casino collects almost $21,000 for WWIA
Combat-wounded veterans will benefit from an annual charitable initiative hosted by St. Croix Casino Danbury: The casino’s fourth annual fundraiser for Wounded Warriors in Action (WWIA) collected $21,936.23.
The 2016 fundraiser’s success was the result of St. Croix Casino Danbury employees, area businesses, and casino vendors working together on the following fundraising activities over the span of four months.
Candy Sales: $13,660
Beginning in February, St. Croix Casinos employees and 23 area businesses sold World’s Finest Chocolate to raise funds for WWIA. Employees competed for top sales honors, with 10 employees receiving cash prizes.
Viking Coca-Cola of Rice Lake provided incentives for the employee contest, and numerous local businesses sold the candy.
WWIA T-shirt Sales:
$3,000
WWIA T-shirts were sold at the casino for $10 each. T-shirts were donated by two of the casino’s vendors.
Employee Donations: $3,545
Survivorman Les Stroud Concert: $670
Half of the proceeds from a June 11 concert by Survivorman Les Stroud was donated to WWIA.
Cash Donation Box: $1,061.23
In recognition of St. Croix Casino Danbury’s contribution, WWIA founder John McDaniel, lieutenant colonel (Retired) said, “The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation is extremely humbled and honored by St. Croix Casinos’ generosity and philanthropic ways. Our nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients will be the direct benefactors of 100 percent of this amazing donation.
“These proceeds will be applied to support our healing work in the great state of Wisconsin, specifically at our healing center located in the north woods.
“Our heroes and I would like to thank all the great patrons and employees who support the St. Croix Casinos and our war-wounded veterans,” McDaniel said. “A big salute to all!”
The first annual fundraiser, hosted by St. Croix Casino Danbury in June 2013, raised $9,925.55 for Wounded Warriors in Action and $7,345.55 for other veterans programs.
The casino’s 2013 donation to WWIA was the largest single donation ever received by WWIA.
The casino’s second annual fundraiser for WWIA collected $10,978.78, and the third in 2015 took in $11,967.
The $21,936.23 raised during this year’s fundraiser brings the St. Croix Casino Danbury’s total contribution to WWIA since 2013 to $54,807.56.
Wounded Warriors in Action is an organization that serves the nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors.