Music City Center and Caesars Entertainment Give Back
May 23, 2022
While the trade show and meetings industry continues its steady path toward recovery, some event-related organizations remain committed to making sure that those less fortunate within the communities they operate aren’t left behind. Check out two event industry entities who recently went the extra mile to make a difference in their home cities and beyond.
Music City Center
Nashville’s Music City Center, in partnership with Sodexo Live! and Nestlé, recently donated 150 gallons of soup to The Nashville Food Project, a nonprofit organization that brings people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food to help alleviate hunger in the Nashville community.
Known as “The Big Soup,” the donation provided 1,500 servings of chicken noodle soup that helped support more than 20 community groups that partner with The Nashville Food Project in the greater Nashville area.
According to Music City Center officials, this is the second year the venue’s culinary team has collaborated with the nonprofit organization on this project. In September 2021, Music City Center and its partners donated another 150 gallons of soup to The Nashville Food Project.
“We are extremely fortunate to partner with such amazing organizations and give back to our community in this way,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO of Music City Center. “By combining our talents and resources, we’re able to better serve our neighbors in need, and we’re proud to do so.”
Freshly prepared and chilled in the Music City Center kitchen by the facility’s culinary team, the soup’s creation was a collaborative effort, with Nestlé providing seven cases of base ingredients and the venue providing the other ingredients, as well as bowls and spoons. The 30-gallon buckets used to transport the soup were then picked up by The Nashville Food Project.
“Every day, The Nashville Food Project works to ensure all of our neighbors have access to the food they want and need,” said Bianca Morton, chef and director of meals for The Nashville Food Project. “Thanks to Music City Center, Sodexo Live! and Nestlé, we can share good food with thousands across our city.”
Check out a video of “The Big Soup” preparation and donation in action at Music City Center here.
Caesars Foundation
Caesars Entertainment recently made $3.3 million in donations to dozens of national and local nonprofit organizations through the company’s corporate giving platform, the Caesars Foundation.
This year’s donation recipients include a first-ever partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America, Meals on Wheels (for the 20th consecutive year) and longtime partners including Clean the World Foundation; International Center for Responsible Gaming; National Park Trust, Public Education Foundation; Second Wind Dreams; and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
According to Caesars Entertainment officials, financial gifts from the Foundation focus on nonprofit organizations working to address key issues that align with the company’s core values, including responsible gaming, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion.
“At Caesars Entertainment, we’re focused on giving back to the communities where our guests and team members live, work and play,” said Heather Rapp, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Caesars Entertainment. “These funds will provide critical support for communities and programs in need across the U.S.”
Funded by the resorts Caesars Entertainment owns or operates, the Caesars Foundation is dedicated to supporting the communities in which the company operates with an ongoing commitment to economic development while improving the quality of life of team members and their families, the community and society at large.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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