LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Caesars
Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR), the world's most diversified
casino-entertainment provider, today announced the creation of The
Shared Future Fund, a new and innovative investment model that will
be used to create long-term positive change for adult and child
victims of human trafficking. The fund will be controlled and
managed by ImpactNV, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Southern Nevada
dedicated to mobilizing cross-sector leadership to address pressing
social needs and building a better community.
The Shared Future Fund will be initially resourced by in-kind
donations and direct financial support from Caesars Entertainment
and an inaugural fundraising event in spring of 2019. The
self-sustaining model is designed to catalyze solutions to core
regional issues via grants, loans and investments.
"The formation of The Shared Future Fund underscores
Caesars Entertainment's belief that every human being deserves an
equal opportunity for a bright future and fulfilling life. In our
inaugural year, The Shared Future Fund will prioritize solutions
centered on human trafficking, which is an issue that particularly
affects women and children," said Jan Jones
Blackhurst, Executive Vice President of Public Policy and
Corporate Responsibility at Caesars Entertainment. "As the first
social impact fund for Nevada, we
hope that our new venture can be a model for companies and
communities collaborating to end systematic inequity."
The Shared Future Fund aims to define a new pathway to
achieve philanthropic goals by supporting a holistic,
community-centered strategy that emphasizes advocacy and collective
impact rather than the traditional approach of contributing
financial resources to company-chosen causes. The initial emphasis
of the fund will be to provide support for women and children
affected by trauma associated with human trafficking, which is an
issue that intersects heavily with other crises that rise from
social inequity including homelessness and immigration
concerns.
"ImpactNV has a proven track record for accelerating and
deploying evidence-based solutions that solve for systemic
challenges facing Southern
Nevada's most vulnerable populations. However, we know
change requires collaboration, and are proud to be part of this
innovative venture with Caesars Entertainment," said Lauren Boitel, ImpactNV's Executive Director.
"With The Shared Future Fund, we believe we can create a safety net
for the local community where every person is seen, heard and
valued, ultimately building a stronger community for us all."
Caesars Entertainment and ImpactNV identified three intersecting
priority areas for The Shared Future Fund, each rooted in the
pervasive social and economic inequality that underscores
Nevada's most vulnerable
populations.
- Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is one of the most
predominant issues in the hospitality industry; Nevada ranks second for highest number of sex
trafficking cases per 100,000 residents in the country with more
than twice the national average. The Shared Future Fund will
develop a strategy to reduce, treat and rehabilitate adult and
child victims of sex trafficking.
- Homelessness: Homelessness is one of the most
consistently identifiable causes of inequality. Nevada has the third-highest rate of
unsheltered individuals in the nation; more than 300 families with
children are homeless every night. The fund will design and develop
a plan for long-term impact by 2020.
- Immigrant Integration: Immigrants make up 20 percent of
Nevada's population and a quarter
of its workforce. More than 100,000 U.S. citizens in Nevada live with at least one family member
who is undocumented. The Shared Future Fund will develop an
approach to provide new Nevadans with pathways to crucial community
connection, education, employment, language access, naturalization
and healthcare.
In addition to The Shared Future Fund, Caesars
Entertainment is launching an Economic Equity Tour. The six-stop
tour will visit communities where affiliates of Caesars
Entertainment operate and will focus on financial literacy,
workforce development, entrepreneurship and potential business
opportunities for diverse suppliers. Caesars is also advancing its
Gender Equity Initiative, which aims to reach an equal
representation of women and men in leadership by 2025.
About Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Caesars
Entertainment is the world's most diversified casino-entertainment
provider and the most geographically diverse U.S.
casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment
has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and
acquisitions and its portfolio of subsidiaries now operate 49
casinos in 13 U.S. states and five countries. Caesars
Entertainment's resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®,
Harrah's® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars Entertainment's
portfolio also includes the Caesars Entertainment UK family of
casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and
value with its guests through a unique combination of great
service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational
excellence and technology leadership. Caesars Entertainment is
committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the
environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. For more
information, please visit www.caesars.com.
About ImpactNV
ImpactNV is a 501c3 nonprofit founded
in 2008 through public and private partnership that brings leaders
together to address our most pressing needs in order to build a
better community. ImpactNV focuses on Triple Bottom Line community
development by catalyzing systems level change via impactful
projects and programming such as hosting Nevada's only comprehensive sustainability
summit, ConveneNV and annually publishing Nevada's State of Sustainability Report. For
more information, please visit impact-nv.org.
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SOURCE Caesars Entertainment