Recognizing the Cass County Fair as an important entertainment and educational experience for adults and youth alike, the Backus American Legion Charitable Gaming Partnership donated $10,000 to help insure the event’s continued operation.
The partnership, consisting of the Legion post and its longtime gaming affiliate, Willard’s Saloon & Eatery, also donated $5,000 to the Pine River Fire Department.
The Legion membership voted to award the donations after presentations from the Cass County Fair Board and the Pine River Fire Department, which is raising money to update its hydraulic equipment used to extricate accident victims trapped in vehicles.
A fair board spokesperson described the donation as one of the largest it has ever received. The fair is scheduled June 24-27 in Pine River.
“We agree with the fair board that the event is a valuable entertainment event for our citizens and visitors and an excellent forum for organizations like the 4-H, which enables youth to display a variety of exhibits as part of their educational experience,” Bill Taylor, Legion commander, said in a news release.
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Legion members noted that many Backus area residents live within the Pine River Fire Department coverage area and that the department provides valuable mutual assistance to the Backus department, which the Legion also supports with charitable gaming revenues.
Last year the partnership donated a record $95,392 from gaming revenues, with nearly 99% going to charitable causes in the Backus-Pine River-Hackensack area. Donations passed $1 million in the history of the program.
“We thank the public for their awesome support of our gaming program which enables us to be a good neighbor to our area,” Pete Williams, Legion gambling manager, said in the news release.
