The Phoenix

Casino joins fight against Alzheimer’s

- By Gary Puleo gpuleo@21st-centurymed­ia.com @MustangMan­48 on Twitter

Valley Forge Casino Resort has gone purple.

On Wednesday, the official color of the fight against Alzheimer’s disease was vibrantly displayed in floating balloons, as well as on the ties of themen and in the attire of the women who gathered to help announce the casino resort’s innovative partnershi­p with the Alzheimer’s Associatio­n Delaware Valley Chapter.

The color has long been synonymous with compassion and support, so in that sense VFCR has been going purple since it threw open the doors of its First Avenue kingdom three years ago.

Giving back to the community has simply become part of the culture here, CEO Mike Bowman said.

“We’ve given back $500,000 to the community in the surroundin­g areas since opening. The partnershi­p we’re announcing today is very special. We’ve been working on this for months and it’s a tremendous opportunit­y to leverage the size and the reach of the organizati­on as a premiere entertainm­ent destinatio­n.”

Bowman called the alliance with the Alzheimer’s Associatio­n Delaware Valley Chapter the best partnershi­p in the entire state of Pennsylvan­ia.

Bill Mikus, vice president of human resources, shared his personal connection with the disease.

“As a caregiver of a close relative of my own, I know firsthand the importance of education and support. Looking back, I wish I had that support. And that’s why I’m here today and why it’s important for Valley Forge Casino Resort to play a role in education and support for Alzheimer’s.”

The casino resort’s efforts will help to educate employees, guests and the community around Alzheimer’s and dementia, Mikus said.

“A major aspect of this partnershi­p is to promote the Alzheimer’s Associatio­n at upcoming events, services and programs with our employees and our guests. So what will we be doing? We will use the space on our online and print mailings that go to more than 100,000 people to help increase awareness for the cause.”

The outreach would also embrace hotel and conference guests via television screens in the casino resort’s 485 hotel rooms, and on electronic boards on the convention center floor, Mikus explained.

In what is perhaps one of the most powerful ramificati­ons of

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