Shoalwater Bay Casino makes $10,000 Donation to PAWS and HAVA

By David Haerle The Daily World • October 9, 2020 3:30 pm
From left, Jamie Judkins, treasurer of Willapa Bay Enterprises Corp; Inge Johnson, PAWS cat coordinator; Linda Francisco, PAWS Board of Directors treasurer; Molle Bouch, PAWS Board of Directors president; Jason Kidwell, PAWS dog coordinator and Valerie Busch, PAWS Board of Directors vice president during the check presentation to PAWS at the Aberdeen shelter on Sept. 25. (Courtesy photo)
From left, Jamie Judkins, treasurer of Willapa Bay Enterprises Corp; Inge Johnson, PAWS cat coordinator; Linda Francisco, PAWS Board of Directors treasurer; Molle Bouch, PAWS Board of Directors president; Jason Kidwell, PAWS dog coordinator and Valerie Busch, PAWS Board of Directors vice president during the check presentation to PAWS at the Aberdeen shelter on Sept. 25. (Courtesy photo)

By David Haerle

The Daily World

When people and families start struggling economically, there’s inevitably a trickle-down affect to their pets, who also must eat, and need shelter.

Some of that need falls on the backs of local animal rescue organizations, as struggling pet owners often turn there first for help with pet food and other needs.

With that in mind, the Shoalwater Bay Casino recently concluded a charity promotion for local no-kill animal shelters PAWS of Grays Harbor and HAVA of Raymond. The promotion raised $10,000, which was recently distributed evenly between the two shelters.

The promotion was the brainchild of Todd Arend, the casino’s marketing manager. It was called “PAWS-itive Paybacks.”

Gamblers were offered the opportunity to donate $100 cash toward the organizations and got $115 back in free play credits in the casino. Arend said customers jumped on the opportunity to help, then play.

“We actually had to shut (the promotion) down three days earlier than expected because all 100 spots were purchased by then,” Arend said.

This is not the first time the casino has helped these organizations, having sponsored a pet food drive and other events in the past — or other community groups.

“We’re part of the community. We have to be, located way out here,” said Amend, noting that the Tokeland casino is not a major tourist destination and mainly caters to locals.

”We’re not a place where people come to from far away for entertainment,” Amend said. “We don’t play the same game as some bigger casinos. We know pretty much everybody who walks through the doors,” he said. “So these are the type of things our General Manager and CEO Johnny Winokur and the Willapa Bay Enterprise board support enthusiastically.”

Courtesy photoFrom left, Johnny Winokur CEO of Willapa Bay Enterprise and GM of Shoalwater Bay Casino; Dee Roberts, director HAVA of Raymond, and Jamie Judkins, treasurer of Willapa Bay Enterprises during a check presentation at the HAVA shelter in Raymond on Sept. 24.

Courtesy photo From left, Johnny Winokur CEO of Willapa Bay Enterprise and GM of Shoalwater Bay Casino; Dee Roberts, director HAVA of Raymond, and Jamie Judkins, treasurer of Willapa Bay Enterprises during a check presentation at the HAVA shelter in Raymond on Sept. 24.