Having served as director and worked for a non-profit in Dubuque for nearly five years, I can verify the strong support given by the casinos to charitable and non-profit organizations in the tri-state area.

In 2011, 235 charitable organizations received grant money from the casinos. Projects funded included school security systems, books and educational materials, and fire safety equipment. In 2012 grant awards went to 182 area charitable organizations. The grants ranged from $1,034 to $40,000. More than 62 percent of the funds supported organizations in the city of Dubuque and 84 percent of the funds supported organizations within Dubuque County. Also, 110 schools or school districts received $502,254 or 26.5 percent of the money.

Since 1985, $37 million has been distributed to charitable organizations in the Dubuque and tri-state area. I would think that within Linn County, with a population more than twice as large as Dubuque County, our non-profit and charitable organizations would also benefit from casino revenues.

Richard Running

Cedar Rapids