Lake of the Torches Resort Casino along with the help of its business partners and sports enthusiasts raised $16,000 that will be distributed to four Northwoods charities during its annual Carry the Torch Charity Fundraiser.

The two-part fundraiser began on Sunday, Aug. 28, with the inaugural Carry the Torch 5K Run/Walk. The run included a one mile kids race with children as young as four years old running a course through downtown Lac du Flambeau. Then, runners and walkers completed a 5K course through downtown Lac du Flambeau and along two picturesque lakes before returning to the casino. All participants received a 5K Run/walk finisher medal and medals were also awarded to top finishers in all age groups. Those attending participated in raffles for fun prizes.

The fundraiser resumed on Wednesday, Aug. 31, with trap shooting competitions at Gateway Gun Club in Land O’Lakes, Wis., one of the premier shooting facilities in the Midwest.

Participants competed in trapshooting competitions in the morning and sporting clays competitions in the afternoon. Awards were presented to top place finishers and teams in a number of categories. Participants also had the chance to win prizes during raffles held throughout the day.

The Lakeland Pantry, the Wisconsin North Central Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Northwoods United Way and the Lac du Flambeau Youth Center will each receive $4,000 with the proceeds from the event.

The Lakeland Pantry serves more than 1,800 families throughout the Lakeland area. These families receive a two-week supply of food along with clothing, infant supplies and other essentials. The pantry routinely distributes 16,000 pounds of food items each week.

“Almost 40 percent of what is distributed goes to children, and our kids are why we are here. We raise 95 percent of our funding from charity events like Carry the Torch,” said Dennis Turner, a Lakeland Pantry volunteer who has helped with the event at Gateway Gun Club for the past several years.

The Lac du Flambeau Youth (Abinoojiiyag) Center offers a wide variety of after school and cultural programs for more than 500 youth in the Lac du Flambeau area. The Youth Center will use the donation to help fund its many club activities, including cultural activities and Ojibwe language instructional programs.

The American Red Cross will use its donation to help with disaster relief and providing assistance to fire victims in throughout Northcentral Wisconsin. The Red Cross also teaches classes on CPR and emergency preparedness along with sending assistance to armed service members and their families, according to John Grosman, a Northwoods American Red Cross disaster response volunteer.

Last, the Northwoods United Way helps fund more than 20 agencies that provide services such as family resource assistance, temporary housing and youth activities to residents across Oneida, Vilas and Forest counties.

“Thank you to all our participants, vendors, and volunteers who helped us make Carry The Torch a success once again for Northwoods charities. Each of these charities play an important role in enriching the lives of residents throughout northern Wisconsin, and Lake of the Torches is honored to help them have the necessary resources for their important work,” said Lake of the Torches’ Director of Marketing Leana Schlecht.

 

Situated on the shores of Pokegama Lake and nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino has a feel of a classic Northern retreat and reflects its Ojibwe culture and heritage. The casino has over 800 slot machines (including a high-limit and non-smoking area), Blackjack tables, Poker tables, Craps and Roulette, a high-stakes Bingo Hall seating up to 500 persons, Woody’s Bar and Grill and the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant. The hotel has 101 well-appointed rooms, the Dancing Waters Lounge and the Woodland Oasis pool area. The 8,500 square-foot Convention Center with the Hall of Nations offers an outstanding venue for entertainment, receptions, trade shows, meetings, presentations and seminars. It is proudly owned and operated by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Information on upcoming events and promotions at Lake of the Torches is available at www.lakeofthetorches.com.

Contact Information
Leana Schlecht
Director of Marketing
Lake of the Torches Resort Casino
www.lakeofthetorches.com
1-800-25-TORCH, ext. 4016