OVER 150K RAISED FOR MAINE CHARITIES
Oxford Casino Giving Back to the Community
For the fourth, consecutive year Townsquare Media and Oxford Casino Hotel have joined forces to raise money for vital local charities. Brian Lang, Regional Market President for Townsquare Media explains, “Oxford Casino Hotel is a tremendous partner and outstanding community citizen. The combined resources of Oxford Casino Hotel and Townsquare Media were instrumental in raising over $150,000 in 2017. This money went to fight cancer, help our veterans, feed families, find homes for pets and help grieving families. We look forward to continuing this partnership and raising more in 2018.”
The partnership began in 2013 when WJBQ’s Morning Show and the casino paired up to raise funds for the radio station’s Q Cans for a Cure. An annual tradition has the fundraiser ending each year with the Q Morning Show’s Lori Voornas, Jeff Parsons and crew camping out at the Maine Mall for several days to encourage people to bring in their cans and bottles to benefit the Cancer Community Center in Portland, Maine. That year Oxford Casino Hotel brought a check for $5000 that pushed Q Cans for a Cure past their goal of $25,000. In 2017, Oxford Casino Hotel’s contribution was $41,800, which helped push Q Cans for a Cure total raised to over $75,000.
Voornas said, “Oxford Casino Hotel has taken Q Cans for a Cure to a whole new level. They have pushed us to do more and more for those fighting breast cancer in Maine. We have been able to, with their encouragement, support and hard work – raise thousands for the Cancer Community Center. That money stays right here in Maine to help those affected by breast cancer. In 2017 we raised over 82,000 dollars for the Center which equated to 10% of their budget that year. We could not have done that without the help of Oxford Casino Hotel. They make us better!” Nicole Avery, Executive Director of Cancer Community Center said, “Q Cans for a Cure raises an astounding amount of money for the work of the Cancer Community Center. The fundraiser helps the Center improve the quality of life for Mainers whose lives are disrupted by cancer. The Center uses the funds to provide a wide range of free services that address many challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. We are grateful for this amazing partnership with the Q97.9 Morning Show Team and Oxford Casino Hotel.” More information about the Cancer Community Center may be found on their website, cancercommunitycenter.org.
Peak for Pets, the partnership between WPKQ-The Peak and Oxford Casino Hotel, benefitting the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland and Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills raised over $30,000 in 2017. Jeana Roth, Director of Community Engagement at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland said, “The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland is immensely grateful for the continued support of Oxford Casino through the Peak for Pets program. Their generosity and support helps thousands of pets in need receive the highest level of treatment and care at our facility.” Lucille Moffett of Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills adds, “RPCOH depends heavily on community support to operate its shelter for homeless dogs and cats. The generous contribution made possible by the ‘Give $5 Get $10’ campaign goes a long way to ensure that we can meet our expenses and the needs of the homeless animals that come to us. Typically, we house 80 to 100 felines and 12 to 20 canines on any given day, all of which stay with us for as long as it takes for them to be placed into new, loving homes. Thank you so very much, Oxford Casino Hotel and Townsquare Media!”
Oxford Casino Hotel began raising funds for local veterans’ charities before partnering with Townsquare Media. Four years later, with the help of WBLM, $40,000 was raised for Veterans Inc., of Lewiston, Veterans Count, of Portland, Warrior Legacy Foundation’s Wounded Heroes Program of Maine and Wreaths Across America. Alley Smith, a USMC veteran on active duty with the USNR and OEF and Regional Manager of Veterans Inc., had this to say, “Veterans Inc. In Maine is tremendously grateful for Oxford Casino Hotel’s and Townsquare Media’s generosity and we are delighted to establish an enduring relationship. The Casino Hotel and WBLM 102.9 demonstrates remarkable commitment to Maine’s most vulnerable veteran population, our homeless and at-risk vets. Thank you for your support!” Easter Seals Maine Military and Veteran Services Director, Jeremy Kendall was also very happy to receive his share of the funds raised via Veterans First, “We are completely overjoyed about Oxford Casino Hotel’s and Townsquare Media’s very generous donation! These funds will help put a Care Coordinator in front of our Veterans to help guide and navigate barriers that would otherwise hinder them from personal success. It will also help put food on a veteran’s table to feed their family, fix a vehicle so the veteran can attend important medical appointments, maintain stable employment or to help maintain housing stability and avoiding homelessness by making a rent or mortgage payment for a family that has fallen on hard times. We are so grateful for the continued support of Oxford Casino of all of Maine’s military community.” Pam Payeur, Executive Director of Wounded Heroes Program of Maine said, “Wounded Heroes Program of Maine cannot thank the folks at Oxford Casino Hotel and WBLM/WCYY enough for their outstanding work honoring veterans this past year. Their efforts the previous year were awesome. Yet, they raised the bar even higher this past year by holding Heroes Nights EVERY month instead of every quarter, and moving these fundraising days to an even busier day of the week. Unheard of! We greatly appreciate everyone’s hard work helping us in our mission to serve our wounded in their time of need. On behalf of all wounded veterans we serve, we are very grateful.” All of the funds raised will remain in Maine to serve Maine’s military, veterans and their families.
WCYY, 94.3, has run the Markathon since 2008. For 102 hours, they take requests from their listeners and raise money for The Center for Grieving Children. In coordination with Oxford Casino Hotel, $9,520 was raised for the cause. “We are very grateful for the generous support of Oxford Casino. This allows the Center to make it possible for us to offer -—in person, by phone, and online—grief support and resources at no charge,” explained Lisa Morin, Director of Philanthropy at The Center for Grieving Children, Portland. “We want to thank Oxford Casino Hotel and Townsquare Media for seeing the importance of fostering resilience and emotional well-being by providing loving support that encourages the safe expression of grief and loss.” The 2017 Markathon raised a total of $37,000 this year.
Feed the Need resulted when Oxford Casino Hotel merged its yearly campaign to fill boxes with non-perishable food items for the Oxford Helping Hands Food Pantry and the Poland Area Food Pantry with WHOM’s fundraising efforts for Good Shepherd Food Bank and New Hampshire Food Bank. $30,000 was raised this year, to be split evenly between the four charities helping them in their mission to alleviate food insecurity.
Jack Sours, Vice President and General Manager of Oxford Casino Hotel said, “We are so proud that the guests of Oxford Casino Hotel stepped up to contribute over $150,000 in donations for 2017. All of this started with our own efforts to raise money for Maine veterans, and has grown exponentially since we joined forces with Townsquare Media. Part of our mission is to be a great community partner that Oxford Hills can be proud of, and we will continue working toward that end.”
Townsquare Media is a media, entertainment and digital marketing solutions company that owns and operates market leading radio stations, live events and digital, mobile, video and social media properties principally focused on small and mid-sized markets. The company specializes in creating and distributing original and motivating media experiences that connect communities with content they love, people they trust, products they want and things that matter.
Oxford Casino opened in June, 2012 and underwent two expansions, one in October 2012 and another in December 2013 after being purchased by Churchill Downs Incorporated. The hilltop Casino added a hotel, expanded gaming area and new restaurant venue in 2017. It is located on 100 acres 40 minutes northwest of Portland in Maine’s lakes and mountains region. The property includes just under 1,000 Class III slot machines and 28 table games. It also hosts Oxford Grill, a 140 seat casual restaurant, OX Pub, a 150 seat pub style restaurant, Oxford Express, a grab-and-go restaurant, and a 12-seat, video poker bar. Further information can be found at www.oxfordcasino.com.
Churchill Downs Incorporated, (CDI) (NASDAQ: CHDN), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is an industry-leading racing, gaming and online entertainment company anchored by our iconic flagship event – The Kentucky Derby. We are a leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming with gaming positions in eight states, and are the largest legal online account wagering platform for horseracing in the U.S., through our ownership of TwinSpires.com. Additional information about CDI can be found online at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.
