HARRINGTON — Though the holiday season is rapidly approaching, the spirit of giving came early as Harrington Raceway & Casino recently presented checks to two local charitable organizations, the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The monies were a result of two recent fundraisers, which have become annual events at the casino. On Oct. 2, the casino’s fifth annual Ronald McDonald House of Delaware donation drive netted nearly $15,000, and on Nov. 6, $19,000 was raised to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Both events were held in the casino’s Gold Room and were made possible by nearly 3,200 customer donations.

“Not only am I honored to be involved with both of these organizations but also to work for a company that believes in supporting and giving so much back to our local community,” said Hank Rosenberg, Harrington Raceway’s chief operating officer of hospitality, who also serves on the board of directors at Ronald McDonald House and on the Southern Delaware Advisory Board for Make-A-Wish Delaware.

"Having worked with the Ronald McDonald House for 13 years and the Make-A-Wish Foundation for 25 years helps me put my life in perspective. Any problem that I encounter in my daily life is nothing compared to the families that these two organizations service. The efforts of the MAW Foundation and RMH help the children and their families at their most trying times. Over the years, I have heard on so many occasions of how much these two organizations meant to the families and the experience that they will never forget.”

Both organizations’ philanthropic efforts are children and family-centered as the Ronald McDonald House’s mission is to serve families with seriously ill children by enabling access to medical care and offering a place that offers comfort, hope and togetherness. The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

To learn more about these organizations, visit the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware's website or Make-A-Wish's website.