Philanthropy & Community Engagement: Warrior's Welcome, Employees welcome troops for Veterans Day 2014 | November 2014 CSR Newsletter
They are some of the most important VIPs the Company will host all year.
More than 65 veterans arrived at The Mirage to a hero’s welcome. Hundreds of cheering employees were joined by a high school marching band and color guard for a surprise reception line to greet the Wounded Warriors for a special “Salute to the Troops” Veteran’s Day weekend.
The Mirage President Trevor Scherrer, Chief Operating Officer Corey Sanders, and other MGM Resorts International executives were on hand to greet the military men and women – all recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty – as they arrived with their families, friends and caregivers. Mr. Scherrer also spoke to the group at a welcome reception immediately following their arrival.
“On behalf of the 62,000 plus employees of MGM Resorts, thank you and your families for your service and sacrifice,” said Mr. Scherrer. “Watching you all come in here, it makes me proud to be an American. We just can’t wait to show you a good time!”
This is the fourth year MGM Resorts has hosted the Wounded Warriors for a much-deserved Veterans’ Day weekend getaway, and the program continues to expand each year. The VIPs and their guests receive a “Salute to the Troops” Vegas vacation courtesy of MGM Resorts with shows, gala dinners, attraction passes, and much more. This year’s itinerary includes various activities at The Mirage, ARIA and Mandalay Bay.
Representatives from American Airlines, the air travel provider for the soldiers, and the United Services Organizations (USO), the trip’s principal organizer, also spoke to the group of veterans and thanked them for their services and dedication.
“On behalf of our 400 employees and our army of volunteers, we thank the wounded warriors here today for their dedication and sacrifices,” said Phil Parisi, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of the USO. “We at the USO are just an extension of everyone else – thankful American people. Have a blast this weekend. You all certainly deserve it.”
Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Ondra Berry, himself a General Select in the Air National Guard, said that watching the veterans’ reaction to the welcome and the appreciation is always the greatest part of the event.
“I feel it gives them a huge jolt and helps them realize how important they are. A salute is a symbol of respect and this is our salute to them,” he said. “This event is the best thing we do as a company all year.”
