Indiana
Foundations Contribute to Harrah's Employee
Recovery Fund
Stepping up to assist
nearly 9,000 Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET)
employees displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, the Harrison County Community Foundation
and the Caesars Riverboat Casino Foundation
of Floyd County have pledged a total of $150,000
to the Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund.
The foundations were formed with the
opening of Caesars Indiana Casino Hotel in 1998,
with the mission of distributing a portion of
revenues from Caesars Indiana to non-profit
organizations, educational institutions and
governmental agencies in the two southern Indiana
counties. Since their formation, Caesars Indiana
has contributed $65.9 million to the foundations,
which are managed by community leaders in the
two counties.
The Harrison County Community Foundation pledged
$100,000 to the Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund,
while the Caesars Riverboat Casino Foundation
of Floyd County contributed $50,000.
"As a member of this community, I am gratified
by the concern the boards of these foundations
have shown for the employees of our company
impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,"
said Ed Garruto, senior vice president and general
manager of Caesars Indiana. "Their lending
hand during this time of need is a testament
to the close partnership we have developed with
this community."
The Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund was seeded
with an allocation of $1 million from the Harrah's
Foundation. Including the contributions from
the Harrison County and Floyd County foundations,
about $2.5 million has been contributed or pledged
to the fund, including more than $620,000 from
Harrah's employees.
Separately, Harrah's re-opened the Lake Charles
Employee Information Center today. Located at
Harrah's Lake Charles hotel -- 505 N. Lakeshore
Drive, Lake Charles -- the center is a resource
for company employees who were displaced by
the two hurricanes. The Information Center will
be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and
1-5 p.m., Central Time, and includes such services
as:
-- Assistance with compensation and benefits;
-- Counseling services;
-- Online access to crucial services and information,
such as FEMA applications, mortgage information,
unemployment information and online banking;
-- Listings of available shelters, local housing
and transportation;
-- Information on nationwide job opportunities
within the Harrah's network; and,
-- Access to e-mail and to the Harrah's Intranet
with crucial relief and recovery information.
Employees can call the center at 337-437-6088
for specific information about the center and
its services. Employees unable to visit the
center in person can call this number or the
Harrah's Employee Information line: 877-422-7466.
Harrah's requests that all displaced employees
call the information line so the company can
account for all employees and direct them to
relief services.
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