Photo by Karen S. Carter - Shoalwater Bay Casino Marketing Manager Todd Arend, Shoalwater Bay Casino General Manager/CEO of Willapa Bay Enterprises Johnny Winokur, and Willapa Bay Enterprises Treasurer Jamie Judkins presented HAVA Director Dee Roberts wit
HAVA Director Dee Roberts gratefully accepted a $5,000 check from the Shoalwater Bay Casino and Willapa Bay Enterprises that benefits HAVA of Raymond. The presentation was on Thursday, September 24.
"We have lost almost $12,000 not being able to fundraise and that is a huge blow for us," commented Roberts.
"Shoalwater Bay Casino to the rescue," replied Shoalwater Bay Casino Marketing Manager Todd Arend presenting an over-sized check to Roberts.
The money was raised during Shoalwater Bay Casino's PAWSitives Payback charity promotion that occurred from September 1 until September 12. The event raised $10,000 for local no-kill animal shelters, HAVA and PAWS of Grays Harbor.
During the promotion casino guests had the opportunity to sponsor the shelters. The casino then mated their donation with an equal amount of free play plus an additional $15. The promotion reached its goal three days before the promotion ended thanks to the generosity of the casino's guests.
The casino representatives mentioned that they are planning on more fundraisers that will include local toy drives and food banks.
"It makes our team feel good and makes our guests feel good," said Shoalwater Bay Casino General Manager/CEO of Willapa Bay Enterprises Johnny Winokur.
"This is part of our community. We live out there. We're basically separate, but if we don't support the people right here then we have no reason to be there. They [local people] support us and we have to give back to the community."
When asked what HAVA was going to do with the money, Roberts stated, "Because of COVID, so many of the veterinarians are overwhelmed and we have really had to think outside the box to get cats spayed and neutered. At one point we had 60 [cats] waiting to be spayed or neutered. We have had to travel as far as Tacoma, Olympia, and Astoria. So we are going to use that money to help offset those costs."
"We have had a tremendous amount of cats that have been dumped, kittens that have had to be bottle-fed, and so this will help offset the vet costs that we have had," continued Roberts. "It has just been a really tough year so far and not being able to fundraise has emptied our bank account."
In order to give to HAVA mail donations to P.O. Box 243, Raymond, WA 98577 or donate through their website www.hava-heart.org.