At Caesars, we call our team member volunteers HEROs because they inspire us all to be role models and share our time and talent with our communities. Four times a year, we recognize those who have gone above and beyond for the communities they serve. Today, we’re celebrating Patricia Williams, Shelee R. McIlvaine and Steve Mitchell for their dedication. They’ll each receive a $500 check to share with a nonprofit organization of their choice.
Patricia Williams, Front Office Supervisor, HORSESHOE TUNICA
Patricia’s Causes: helping seniors, reducing the property’s environmental impact, educating people about civil rights
As captain of Senior Bingo at Horseshoe Tunica, Patricia identified issues with the program. Seniors were beginning to tire of receiving the same items regularly – they wanted to win more useful items in addition to fun prizes like Horseshoe Tunica t-shirts. Attendance was down, so Patricia rallied her colleagues in donating money to purchase prizes seniors needed, like personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies. Senior Bingo has grown in popularity due to Patricia’s efforts; in the words of a colleague, “Patricia has turned Senior Bingo around – it’s her ‘baby.’”
Patricia also supports the National Civil Rights Museum, leading a group of volunteers each year to tell the story of the African American experience in the U.S. and the struggle for equality. Additionally, Patricia is Horseshoe’s property leader for Clean the World, ensuring that soap and other hygiene products are collected for contribution to fighting bacterial disease around the world. She also plays a major role on the property’s CodeGreen Team.
Shelee R. McIlvaine, Security Supervisor, BALLY’S ATLANTIC CITY
Shelee’s Causes: helping seniors and families in poverty, reducing the property’s environmental impact
Shelee lives by these lines from a Khalil Gibran poem: “I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.”
Shelee not only finds joy in service, she finds joy in leading others. She’s a dedicated recycler, leading her department’s CodeGreen work, including teaching colleagues how to recycle correctly, turning off the lights and gathering batteries and other e-waste for correct disposal.
Shelee has volunteered more than 200 hours to Family Promise of Atlantic City, a nonprofit that assists low-income families. Shelee does it all, from serving on the organization’s board to driving a van that provides the families with weekly transportation. She gives selflessly, often encouraging her family to give donations to senior citizens in need in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts. This dedication to helping others also influences her co-workers: donations from her team are at an all-time high this year!
Steve Mitchell, Surveillance Tech, HORSESHOE TUNICA
Steve’s Causes: helping veterans, fighting hunger
For years, Steve has volunteered at the Memphis VA Hospital, showing up regularly to chat with veterans as they recover from illness or surgery. He also inspires his coworkers to visit, saying “a little conversation goes a long way; veterans need someone who cares.”
Last year, Steve began volunteering at the Tunica Food Pantry, serving those in need of some extra food to put on their tables. Steve’s fellow team members noticed his contributions one February evening. An older man had walked to the food pantry, bringing handmade carts in which to bring home his groceries. With the carts full, the man found he wouldn’t be able to walk home, but Steve displayed our Caring Culture by escorting him to his front door. Steve truly provides the same Service with Passion to the guests of the food pantry and the veterans at the VA Hospital as he does to Horseshoe Tunica guests.
Steve also ensures that events run smoothly, making sure that not only are community members assisted properly, but that his fellow HEROs have fun while volunteering.
Kudos to Steve, Shelee and Patricia for showing care to your community!
