G.I.F.T.S. closing in on $300,000
The Gaming Industry Friends To Society (G.I.F.T.S.) charity program approached a hallmark at the end of 2009: $300,000 in charitable giving since the program's inception 13 years ago.
G.I.F.T.S. is comprised of 62 taverns and casinos mostly serviced by Rocky Mountain Gaming in southwest Montana, primarily in the Bozeman/Belgrade area but including Park, Gallatin and Madison Counties.
Each participating gaming business contributes a portion of its gaming earnings to a fund that is then disbursed to charitable programs, often targeting youth and needy individuals in the region.
In 2009, $24,946 was distributed to almost 40 entities and individuals. The top recipient was the Bozeman Wrestling Club which was allocated $7,500 for new wrestling mats.
Other four-figure awards were for: $1,500 to Romone Lewis, a victim in the March 5, 2009 Bozeman Main Street natural gas explosion that caused a fatality and leveled three buildings and destroyed eight businesses; $1,056 to the Gallatin Food Bank for 96 Thanksgiving turkeys; $1,050 to the Wellness Community for its Mending in the Mountains Cancer retreat; $1,000 to Belgrade High School for its Worthy Student Scholarship fund and $1,000 for three-year-old Lucy Waldeisen's cancer treatment expenses.
Also in three figures were: $1,000 for the Gallatin Gateway Bash which is raising money for a community sewer system; $1,000 in assistance to the Children's Museum of Bozeman; $1,000 to the Children's Safety Bureau for holiday gifts for needy kids; and $1,000 for Thrive and its child advancement program.
$500 awards were made to: Marta Swinga medical assistance, a Bozeman Baseball team sponsorship, the Wellness Community support center, and Grant McGuire, a victim of a house fire.
Numerous other beneficiaries received grants of $350, $300, $250, $200 and $100.
The participating businesses, who deserve kudos, are:
Bay Bar & Grill
Black Bear Bar & Grill
Boxer's-Club 30
Bozeman Bowl
Bear Claw Bar & Grill
Broken Arrow Bar
Belgrade Lounge
Cannery Lounge
Cat's Paw
Claim Jumper Saloon
Coachman Saloon
Mint Bar Whitehall
Crystal Bar
Eagle's Club #326
Friendly Tavern
Filling Station
Gateway Market
Grizzly Lounge
Gusher Pizza
Half Moon Saloon
Haufbrau
Hideaway Lounge
Hub Bar
Iron Horse Saloon
Jackpot Casino East
Jackpot Casino West
Jackpot Casino North
Jackpot Casino Belgrade
Korner Klub
Legion Club, Bozeman
Lucky Cuss
Lucky Palms
M.R. Hummers
Milkie's Pizza
Mixer's
Plaza Bar
Molly Brown
Rustler's Roost
Old Chicago
Rocking R Bar
Santa Fe Red's
Scoop Bar
Stacy's/Old Faithful
Pourhouse
Sir Scott's Oasis
Spectator's Sports Bar
Manhattan Legion Club
Two Bit Saloon
Strozzi's Bar
Teaser's
Town Club
Colonel Black's Zebra Lounge
Rocky Mountain Gaming
Lucky Lil's Bozeman
Lucky Lil's Bozeman
Lucky Lil's Belgrade
Lucky Lil's Belgrade
Lucky Lil's Whitehall
Lucky Lil's Three Forks
Magic Diamond Belgrade
Lucky Lil's Four Corners
Magic Diamond Bozeman