Potawatomi Hotel & Casino on Wednesday put in motion its 2015 “Heart of Canal Street” signature charity event as it announced this year’s 10 signature charities that will receive program funds.
The “Heart of Canal Street” program, formerly known as “Miracle on Canal Street,” raises funds for youth-serving organizations based in southeastern Wisconsin. In the last 22 years, the charity initiative has generated more than $14.6 million for area organizations, primarily through special bingo games played at the casino each August through December.
Similar to previous years, Potawatomi hopes to pass the $1 million mark with its collection efforts this year.
“Heart of Canal Street” bingo games will run through Dec. 10.
The 2015 program’s 10 signature charities, as in past years, were selected by the charity program’s media partners. The 10 chosen organizations and their media sponsors are:
*Betty Brinn children’s Museum, presented by OnMilwaukee.com
*Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, presented by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
*City Year, presented by Lamar Outdoor
*COPE Services, presented by Entercom Radio
*Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, presented by iHeart Media
*Hunger Task Force, presented by Milwaukee Radio Group
*Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, presented by WITI FOX 6
*Ronald McDonald House Charities, presented by Clear Channel Outdoor
*Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, presented by WISN-TV 12
*The Women’s Center, presented by Scripps
Twenty other organizations will also take away funds from the program. Those organizations will be randomly selected by Potawatomi from a pool of applications on Nov. 10.
Additionally, the 2015 program will benefit the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board’s pilot program, Youth Works MKE, which centers on eroding gun violence in Milwaukee. Potawatomi named MAWIB its “Charity of Choice” – a new element to its signature charity program – in July and plans to award the organization $100,000.
The casino and hotel will celebrate its fundraising total and recipient organizations during a Dec. 11 reception.
