On Wednesday, Tioga Downs’ owner Jeff Gural presented the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group (STVSG) with a check for $110,000. The dollars donated were raised during the recent 38-Special concert that was rescheduled because of storms. Gural and his wife, Paula, matched these funds.
According to STVSG President Al Eaton, the funds have been helping area veterans since the organization was formed seven years ago.
“The first donation we received was for $65,000 from Tioga Downs,” said Eaton, “and we have been able to help veterans because of these funds.”
Eaton explained that 93 cents per dollar goes directly to assist veterans, and that the organization works hard to be a good steward of the funding they receive each year from Tioga Downs through the benefit concert, which is held annually.
Most recently, according to Eaton, the group donated all of the appliances to a new home at 27 Pine St. in Binghamton that houses homeless veterans. They also donate to the Memory Maker program at the Oxford Group.
Eaton explained that next year they will focus more on community involvement, and on getting the information out to veterans that might be in need of services.
Tioga Downs has been holding these benefit concerts for STVSG each year since 2009.
Gural, during the check presentation to STVSG on Wednesday, stated that he has always believed in giving back to the community, and supporting veterans seemed to be a simple message.
“Veterans have sacrificed so much for us,” said Gural, adding, “To know there are homeless veterans out there is unacceptable.”
As for the progress and continued success of becoming a full-fledged casino, Gural stated that things have been tough.
“I’ve been fortunate in the real estate business,” said Gural, “but this business here is a little tougher.” Gural noted that he is determined to make a go of it though.
Next up, Gural stated that the new hotel, which is a $200 million project, is expected to be complete by early November.
To learn more about the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group, visit https://stvsg.org.
To learn more about Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
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