Combat-wounded veterans will benefit from an annual charitable initiative hosted by St. Croix Casino Danbury: The casino’s fourth annual fundraiser for Wounded Warriors in Action (WWIA) collected $21,936.23.

The 2016 fundraiser’s success was the result of St. Croix Casino Danbury employees, area businesses and casino vendors working together on the following fund-raising activities over the span of four months:

Candy Sales: $13,660

Beginning in February 2016, St. Croix Casinos employees and 23 area businesses sold World’s Finest Chocolate to raise funds for WWIA. Employees competed for top sales honors, with ten employees receiving cash prizes. Viking Coca-Cola of Rice Lake, Wis. provided incentives for the employee contest.

Area businesses that sold candy were Bush and Gilles Furniture, Car Quest of Frederic, Bill Chrastil, Coons Electric, Daeffler’s Meats, Denelie’s Pizza, Fourwinds Market, Frederic Hardware, Hauck Motor Sports, Inner Strength Martial Arts, Jack’s Place, Larsen Auto Center, Louie’s Finer Meats, McKenzie Landing, Miller Hill Mall, Moose Junction, Schmitz’s Economart, Skol Bar, Shawn’s Service, Sparkles Auto Salon, Stricker’s Lounge, the Trego Dinner Bell and Wild River Sport and Marine.

WWIA T-shirt Sales: $3,000

WWIA T-shirts were sold at the casino for $10 each. T-shirts were donated by Gaming Capital, Inc. and Markit Smart, two of the casino’s vendors.

Employee Donations: $3,545

Survivorman Les Stroud Concert: $670

Half of the proceeds from a June 11 concert by Survivorman Les Stroud were donated to WWIA.

Cash Donation Box: $1,061.23

In recognition of St. Croix Casino Danbury’s contribution, WWIA founder John McDaniel, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) said, “The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation is extremely humbled and honored by St. Croix Casinos’ generosity and philanthropic ways.  Our Nation’s combat wounded Purple Heart recipients will be the direct benefactors of 100% of this amazing donation.  These proceeds will be applied to support our healing work in the great state of Wisconsin, specifically at our Healing center located in the north woods.  Our heroes and I would like to thank all the great patrons and employees who support the St. Croix Casinos and our war-wounded veterans — a BIG salute to all!”

The first annual fundraiser, hosted by St. Croix Casino Danbury in June 2013, raised $9,925.55 for Wounded Warriors in Action and $7,345.55 for other veterans programs. The casino’s 2013 donation to WWIA was the largest single donation ever received by WWIA. The casino’s second annual fundraiser for WWIA collected $10,978.78, and the third in 2015 took in $11,967. The $21,936.23 raised during this year’s fundraiser brings the St. Croix Casino Danbury’s total contribution to WWIA since 2013 to $54,807.56.

Wounded Warriors in Action is an organization that serves our nation’s combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities as a means to recognize and honor their sacrifice, encourage independence and connections with communities, and promote healing and wellness through camaraderie and a shared passion for the outdoors. For more information about WWIA, browse their website,woundedwarriorsinaction.org.        
Contact: Judy Warmanen, 715-986-4777