Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Community Service Commission recently named FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek a 2017 Corporate Community Leader . The honor, one of the Governor’s Service Awards, recognizes corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement and demonstrate excellent corporate citizenship by giving back to their community.
MCSC said since it opened in 2009, FireKeepers team members affected more than 40,000 individuals by partnering with several local charities. The FireKeepers team has provided nearly 100,000 pounds of food to the needy, raised more than $60,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo and donated more than 3,000 volunteer hours to S.A.F.E. Place. In its most recent endeavor, FireKeepers created the Fire Hub, which turned a historic Battle Creek fire station into a restaurant, community food bank and gardens on nearby tribal land where food is grown for local schools.
FireKeepers Chief Executive Officer Kathy George said, “We take our strong community focus from our owners, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. Supporting our community and improving the lives of our local residents is important to every person who works here and should be a source of great pride and satisfaction. Building a positive influence is our number one goal.”
Snyder stated, “These individuals and organizations are role models for other people to follow. The impact they have on other people’s lives is incredible. They show us how to overcome obstacles and do good things for other people. They demonstrate tremendous spirit and we are thrilled to recognize them.”
Last year, FireKeepers Vice President of Food and Beverage Michael McFarlen was named Volunteer of the Year at the Governor’s Service Awards ceremony.
