Hollywood Gaming hosts VIP event

AUSTINTOWN

The VIP event at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course brought out the local celebrities.

An Elvis impersonator, Marilyn Monroe and Jack Nicholson look-alikes greeted guests at the doors.

Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for Penn National, said 100 percent of the night's proceeds from primarily beverages, food is complimentary, and video lottery terminal revenue will be evenly distributed between the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley after the state takes its standard 33 percent.

Officials from the Ohio Lottery Commission were on hand to oversee the event.

Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest, said it will use its portion of the proceeds for a backpack program.

"We felt that expanding our backpack program because a lot of kids are coming to school Monday morning hungry."

That program currently provided about 1,000 backpacks every Friday to students in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Linda Macala of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau was in attendance at the event.

"It's a first class facility," Macala said. "It's got to give the area a huge boost. It's just adds another element to [The Valley]."

The racino saw its first jackpot on a $5-per play Triple Sevens' machine for $1,800 during the team member play from 12 to 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The winner was able to get the winnings after taxes.