Casino Player November 2022

RAISING UP THE COMMUNITY The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi and FireKeepers Casino Hotel give back in a big way

T he Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) has made reinvesting in the community a priority since opening FireKeepers Casino Hotel in 2009.The development and suc cess of the casino has generated benefits well beyond its home base of Battle Creek,MI.The tribe makes annual payments to the state and a local revenue sharing board from casino revenues, in addition to supporting hundreds of charitable endeavors throughout Michigan,Indiana and Ohio, via donations and sponsorships. The type of hands-on impact,which is the hallmark of the NHBP/FireKeepers focus on improving the local community, is generally unheard of across the United States.The tribe’s most significant investment isThe Fire Hub restaurant and connected Kendall Street Food Pantry in downtown Battle Creek. The restaurant provides a much-needed tasty lunch and dinner food option in an underserved section of the city.The Fire Hub’s most important goal is to give back to the community, which is accomplished via multiple programs. Eighty percent of all restaurant profits, plus monies from purchasers who often round up their purchase with a donation rather than a tip, is al located to local charities.The remaining 20 percent of profits is reinvested in the property.To date,The Fire Hub has raised more than $30,000 through this fund. The Kendall Street Pantry, located in the rear section of the building, operates as an agent of the South Michigan Food Bank, distributing food from shelves to those less fortunate. In addition, a large greenhouse on nearby tribal land is growing fresh produce, to provide free salad bars for schools in the Battle Creek area. “The Fire Hub reflects so many of the foundations of our tribe,” stated NHBPTribal Council Chairperson Jamie Stuck.“It reflects our care for mother earth, for the goodness it brings us every day.And, our desire to raise up the community.” The Fire Hub’s greenhouse provides more than 50,000 pounds of produce annually, to 11 area schools and daycares in and around Battle Creek, through a program titled Operation Fit; in addition to 500 pounds donated to Athens Schools (located near the NHBP’s Pine Creek Reser vation). The Fire Hub and FireKeepers make it a point to help neighbors in need around the holiday season.The Food and Beverage teams work together to provide a free, traditional Thanksgiving meal for more than 500 guests.They also provide free meals to veterans on Veterans Day, as well as Christmas meal kits in December.The casino also regularly collects non-perishable food items to donate toThe Kendall Street Pantry and the food bank through an initiative called Food for Friends. “Combining FireKeepers resources with amazing local partners, such as Operation Fit, we’ve been able to make a positive impact on a countless amount of people, and that is a source of great pride for our team,”stated FireKeepersVice President of Marketing JimWise.“It is an honor to witness this process, and we look forward to continuing this work.”

With six restaurants and a banquet kitchen on site, FireKeepers places a strong emphasis on food. With all of that food comes a lot of waste.The FireKeepers Food and Bever

age team was recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a Food Recovery Challenge National Award for their efforts to prevent and reduce food waste. FireKeepers’wide range of efforts include the purchase of blast chillers to reclaim food from the buffet and banquet events,as the food had been prepared and not served. This food is then repackaged and distributed to those in need in the community.The amount of food diverted through FireKeepers donation efforts totals more than 10 tons.That number continues to rise through employee education and awareness. FireKeepers also works with food banks to prevent waste through the Fresh Food Initiative (FFI). FireKeepers and the South Michigan Food Bank partner to provide an average of four FFI events each month.At these events, fresh produce is distributed to neighbors in need.To prevent produce from being wasted, the FireKeepers Team develops easy recipes using the produce distrib uted and provides samples to encourage clients to utilize all the items they receive. In addition, the development of a greenhouse on local tribal land has generated fresh food,which is being utilized to provide free salad bars in local schools. “Following the example set by our owners,the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi,supporting the communities and improving lives is a priority of all of our Team Members,” statedWise.“Being a positive influence is FireKeepers’ number one goal.” For more information, visit www.FireKeepersCasino.com.

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