Boyd Gaming donating $30k to local charities with "Trees of Hope"

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Thirty nonprofit organizations will spread holiday cheer as they compete in Boyd Gaming’s second annual “Trees of Hope” holiday decorating competition. Boyd Gaming will give away $30,000 in this year’s competition to nonprofits decorating trees at six Boyd Gaming properties in the Las Vegas Valley.

“Giving back to the communities we call home is at the core of our culture, and Trees of Hope is a fantastic opportunity for us to give back to so many deserving charities,” said Marianne Johnson, Vice Chairman, Executive Vice President, and Chief Diversity Officer of Boyd Gaming. “We look forward to welcoming the community to our properties for this important and festive tradition.”

Originating nine years ago at Boyd Gaming’s Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel in Vinton, La., Trees of Hope is a nationwide tree-decorating competition benefiting nonprofit organizations in the communities served by Boyd Gaming. Last year, Boyd Gaming gave more than $25,000 to Southern Nevada-based non-profits who participated in its first-annual competition.

Beginning Tuesday, 29 November through Sunday, 18 December, members of the public are invited to visit each participating property and vote for their favorites. Each Las Vegas Valley property will award a $5,000 prize pool to participating charities, including a first-place prize of $2,000. Winners will be decided by public vote at each property.

Confirmed participants in the 2016 Trees of Hope are:

Aliante Casino Hotel and Spa
(On the casino floor near ETA Lounge)
American Heart Association
Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada
Three Square Food Bank
USO Las Vegas

California Hotel & Casino
(Second floor, on walkway to Main Street Station)
First Friday Foundation
FIRST Nevada
Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club
Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
9th Island Cultural Club of Las Vegas

Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
(South end of the Race & Sports book)
A Home 4 Spot
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Boy Scouts of America – Las Vegas Area Council
HELP of Southern Nevada
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Orleans Hotel and Casino
(West side of casino, near French Market Buffet)
The Animal Foundation
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas
March of Dimes

Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall
(Second floor, near the Bingo Room)
Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation
HopeLink of Southern Nevada
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas
The Shade Tree

Suncoast Hotel and Casino
(Skywalk to the parking garage)
Alzheimer’s Association of Southern Nevada
American Cancer Society
Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation
Olive Crest
Opportunity Village

While people of all ages are welcomed to view the Trees of Hope displays, guests must be 21 or older and have an active B Connected account to cast a vote at The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam’s Town and California; or an Aliante Players Club card to cast a vote at Aliante. Voting opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. Ballots may be obtained at loyalty club kiosks at participating properties, and may then be cast at a designated voting location at the property. Voting is limited to one vote per loyalty card account, per property, during the contest. More details are available on-property at the players club.

Guests are encouraged to campaign for their favorite organizations on social media, using hashtag #TreesofHopeLV.