Harrah’s Pompano Beach Builder Donates $150K To Communities

Organizations in the Pompano Beach community will receive a $150,000 donation on behalf of Caesars Entertainment and The Cordish Companies.

The two companies are developing The Pomp, a 223-acre, world-class dining and entertainment district under construction next to the popular Florida casino, Harrah’s Pompano Beach. Additionally, they’re making a direct effort to positively impact the surrounding communities.

What neighborhoods are helped by the Harrah’s donation?

Florida has 15 casinos spread across the state. Florida online casinos are prohibited, as is sports betting.

Caesars and Cordish awarded their donation to Pompano Beach’s Community Charitable Funding Grant program.

The program distributes resources for neighborhood projects centered around community service, traffic and public safety improvements, and community revitalization and beautification. It was designed to benefit The Pomp-adjacent areas of:

Pompano Beach
Palm Aire
Collier City
Cypress Bend

Cordish CFO Zed Smith spoke of supporting local organizations that improve quality of life in the area.

“The recipients of these grants are driving their respective communities forward, making them a great place to live, work, play and visit. We are certain that this additional financial support will go a long way in helping them continue their efforts to revitalize and transform the greater Pompano Beach area.”

Caesars senior vice president and general manager Troy Buswell echoed those sentiments.

“The passion and dedication of each of our grant recipients creates a positive impact within our community every day.”

More than 20 recipients will receive money from donation

In total, 21 community organizations will receive funding from the Caesars-Cordish grant. Amounts awarded range from $2,500 to $33,000. The top three earners were:

Cypress Bend Condominium Association: Received $33,000 from four individual grants of $10K, $9K, $9K and $5K.
Moreland’s Academy: Received the largest single contribution of $20,000.
Browns Community Development Center: Received $12,500 from two grants of $10K and $2.5K.

Three additional organizations each received $10,000:

Eta Nu Education Foundation
Greater Collier City Civic Association
Tiger Trail Festival, Inc.

The remaining 15 collected between $2,500 and $6,000.

Jeannette Gordon, president and CEO of $6,000 awardee McArthur’s Own, Inc., said the grant money’s impact will be felt far beyond the funded projects.

“The significance of this grant extends beyond mere financial assistance. … This not only enriches the initiatives that receive funding but also equips the community with skills and knowledge they can apply in future endeavors. It is McArthur’s Own’s firm belief that the impact of this collaborative effort will be multidimensional – addressing social, economic and even environmental aspects of community well-being. With its proven expertise in designing and executing impactful programs, McArthur’s Own is confident that this partnership will substantially contribute to a brighter, more inclusive, future for Pompano Beach.”

The Pomp being built for the future

Caesars’ plans to revamp its Pompano Beach presence started in February 2022, when the company announced it would rebrand the Isle Casino Pompano Park to the more recognizable Harrah’s Pompano Beach.

With the popularity of horse racing on the decline, Caesars will close the adjacent Isle Pompano Park racetrack and transform the space into a mixed-use destination. The plans also include renovations to the casino, adding 15,000 square feet of gaming space, a 12,500-square-foot outdoor “gaming terrace” and a new hotel.

Caesars chose to partner with Cordish, which owns the Live! brand. It operates casinos and mixed-use spaces in half a dozen major US cities.

The South Florida joint venture will feature 1.3 million square feet of retail and entertainment space, headlined by Harrah’s Pompano Beach Live! Highlights include: