For the second year in a row, Ameristar team members visited the Rehabilitation Institute to present a large donation in support of our mission to Build Brighter Futures.

Twenty Ameristar employees, including Dave Albrecht, general manager, and Cristen Mendez, co-chair of Ameristar Casino Kansas City’s Workplace Giving Campaign were on-site to present the Institute with a check for $237,500. Albrecht stated that Team Members not only met their campaign goal, but also exceeded it by almost $100,000.

This marks the second year that the Ameristar Cares Workplace Giving Campaign has raised more than $200,000 for the Rehabilitation Institute. The grand contribution is the result of funds pledged by Ameristar Team Members plus matching funds from Ameristar Casino and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

The Rehabilitation Institute's relationship with Ameristar began two years ago with a tour of the facility. This year's check presentation was followed by a brief tour allowing Team Members to see their donations in action. Even those who had taken the tour in the past were excited saying that each year they were able to see the new and wonderful things that their donations were accomplishing.

The donation will provide critical funding for our medical rehabilitation programs. It will also support two key Institute activities—A Day at the Lake-a water sports clinic and outing for individuals with spinal cord injuries and the fourth annual Arts on the Hill-an art exhibit celebrating artists with disabilities. The Ameristar Cares donation will also fund recreational therapy services for children served through our Adolescent Program. Recreational therapy helps adolescents who have experienced traumatic illnesses or injuries learn how to navigate real-life experiences. The donation will also allow RI Industries to continue working with Harvesters. This year, due to budget constraints, Harvesters would not have been able to use RI Industries to help get food sorted and ready for delivery. We are able to continue or fruitful relationship thanks to Ameristar Cares.

Because of Ameristar Cares, 2006 looks bright and hopeful for the children and adults served by the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City.

Dave Albrecht, general manager of Ameristar Casino presents a “big” check to Don Harkins, president and ceo of the Institute. Ameristar Team Member Karen Duffy stands in the center while her colleagues look on.

Following the formal check presentation, members of the Ameristar Cares Workplace Giving Committee were photographed with current and former Institute patients.

Children and adults with disabilities won big on January 28, 2005 when team members from Ameristar Casino, Kansas City presented a $205,000 check to the Institute. The gift represents the single largest contribution the Institute has received from a corporation.

The outstanding contribution is the result of a new Ameristar Cares Workplace Giving Campaign that raised nearly $1.6 million for 30 different charitable efforts around the nation. Ameristar Team member contributions were matched by Ameristar Casino, Kansas City and CEO Craig H. Neilsen’s Foundation. An additional contribution from the Foundation raised the total Ameristar Cares gift to the grand level. The phenomenal success of our first company-wide campaign was driven by Ameristar team members, who were extraordinarily generous with their donations, says Craig Neilsen. We are proud of our team members and their heartfelt concern for the communities in which they live and work.

Our Board of Directors and staff were nearly speechless when they learned of Ameristar’s goodwill, says Don Harkins Institute President. Their support will help children and adults who have acquired a disability (because of a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological disease or birth defect) get back on the road of life. Specifically, the funds will support programs and purchase equipment that helps individuals relearn how to perform activities of daily living such as self care, mobility and communication to more complex needs related to driving, living independently, working or attending school. The new equipment includes:

• A specially adapted vehicle used to provide driver’s training for individuals with disabilities;
• A LiteGait system which helps individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries stand;
• An Environmental Control Unit which allows individuals with limited or no arm/hand movement due to paralysis use voice commands to operate various household technology; and
• An adaptive computer workstation for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

The Ameristar Cares Workplace Giving Campaign and the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City are a winning combination.

Other Grants Awarded

The Institute was honored to receive grants from the following foundations in support of our new Memory Clinic and Dementia Program.

$20,000 from the Jewish Heritage Foundation of Greater Kansas City
$19,819 from the Menorah Legacy Foundation
$7,500 from the Oppenstein Brothers Foundation