Rivers Casino donation buys SMART Boards for Des Plaines school
Rivers Casino recently donated $20,000 to Our Lady of Destiny Catholic School in Des Plaines, money used to purchase seven SMART Boards and equipment necessary to operate them for second through seventh-grade classrooms.
“The teachers appreciate using them because the SMART Boards enhance the lesson through technology and enables the teachers to reach the educational standards through visual and auditory means,” school Principal Linda Chorazy said in a news release. “The students just love the lessons on the SMART Boards; 100 percent of the class is engaged 100 percent of the time. It doesn’t get better than that!”
A SMART Board is an interactive projection display that enables teachers to combine a variety of learning tools, such as websites, images and videos on a digital whiteboard.
Supporting local education-based programs has been part of the Des Plaines casino’s charitable initiatives since opening in July 2011, said Bill Keena, casino general manager.
“We have foundations that we give money every year to,” Keena said. “It’s $1 million a year or 2 percent of our net revenues.”
The money is divvied up into scholarships supporting Illinois residents, casino employees, Des Plaines educational programs, and state educational programs. Donations have benefitted Oakton Community College, Maine West High School, Maryville Academy, a Des Plaines youth group, Des Plaines Elementary District 62, and Lattof YMCA.
Keena projects the casino will donate $1.7 million in 2013.