Black Oak Casino Hosts

4th Annual Community Grab for Cash

4th Annual Black Oak Casino Community Grab for Cash Brings Windfall to Area Non-Profits

Each November, Black Oak Casino kicks-off the holiday season by inviting 10 Tuolumne County charities and non-profits to participate in the Annual Community Grab for Cash.
This year participating organizations took home more than $16,000, bringing the 4-year total to more than $50,000.

“The Community Grab for Cash at Black Oak Casino is our way of kicking off the holiday season by giving back to the community,” said Ron Patel, Black Oak Casino General Manager. “It’s a fun opportunity for our local non-profit organizations to get some much needed financial support.”

A representative from each of the selected organization has the opportunity to get in the Casino’s cash cube and grab as much of the whirling $5,000 as they can in thirty seconds.

The rewards of those moments in the cube can be seen can be seen in a number of ways in the Tuolumne community.

“In the 30 seconds staff was doing the ‘grab' the food bank received a total of $2,380,” said Billie Westernoff, Program Director of HRC Community Services Program.

The HRC Food Bank serves all of Calaveras County. Feeding an average of 800 families every month. “As funding gets more and more competitive, budgets get tighter and tighter and it gets harder and harder to make the food go as far as it needs to. The $2,380 will go along way in helping us to complete our goal of feeding the hungry in Calaveras County,” said Westernoff.

On December 9, The 25th Annual Tuolumne County Children’s Holiday Party helped to bring gifts to 1,189 underprivileged kids.

“We couldn’t have done it without the donation from Black Oak,” Said Duke York, Program Director, “Their donation will help to continue the tradition in years to come as well.”
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“We so appreciate Black Oak’s financial support, “ said Kelli Noteman, President of Friends of Columbia State Historic Park. “The Grab for Cash was fun and we really enjoyed participating.” Noteman says that the $1,370 will go towards supporting their school programs and other educational projects.

Terri Neher, Board Member of The Women's Improvement Society of Tuolumne (TWIST) agrees that the Grab was a fun and exciting way to get a donation.

“[Black Oak’s] program will assist us in providing scholarships to local high school seniors and again sponsor a Community Clean Up Week during the month of June 2007. We are thankful for their continued support of our organization and our community.  Their generosity is truly appreciated,” said Neher.

Other non-profits participating this year included the Westside Little League, Legal Advocacy Program, Senior Youth Partnership, HOST Program, Ride Away Center and Alpha lota of Omega Nu.

“We look forward to next year and the chance to apply again!” said Westernoff.

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