YOU CAN HELP
During the 1995 Legislative session, House Bill 597 was passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor on May 24, 1995. Among the provisions of this law was a "sunset" clause that will mandate all Prince George's County Casinos to shut down in two years. That date is May 24, 1997.
In order for charity casinos to remain open, the Mayland State Legislature would have to pass new legislation to extend the sunset date. Legislation to extend the sunset is currently being prepared for presentation to the House and Senate this year.
The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department, which holds its charitable gaming events at the Knights of Columbus lodge in Forestville, is supported financially primarily through it's charity gaming ventures twice a
week. We do receieve funds from the city, county and through donations, but the rising cost of apparatus and equipment is mostly funded through the games.
BECAUSE OF CHARITY GAMING:
We have been able to purchase a brand new 100' aerial ladder truck that replaced a unit that was more than 22 years old. The cost of this 1996 Pierce Lance unit was more than $610,000. It will be placed in service later this year. This purchase would not have been possible without charity gaming
Earlier this year, the department donated $25,000 to the "Save Carlie" campaign, a fund for a young Hyattsville girl that desparately needs a new liver. The money will be used to fund her care after the operation. Read about our efforts here. We also conducted streetside boot drives that raised another $9,000, but the bulk of our donation came from money raised through charity gaming. This donation would not have been possible without charity gaming
In 1994, we purchased a Pierce Heavy Rescue Squad, allowing us to provide a new service to the citizens we serve. In many instances, this unit will cut in-half the response times of a rescue squad to vehicle accidents and fires in this part of the county. The unit is also specially equipped to handle mass casualty, Metrorail and transportation accidents ... one of just a handful of units equipped as such in the entire Washington area. The cost of this unit was more than $500,000. This purchase would not have been possible without charity gaming
In the last eight years, the department has purchased two new pumpers, at a cost of about $200,000 to replace each now, and a new basic life support ambulance, with an estimated replacement cost of $110,000. These purchases would not have been possible without charity gaming
In the next few years, it is or hope to build a new state-of-the-art fire station to house our ever-growing membership and support the needs of the community. The new facility would include a city police substation, community meeting rooms and much more. But funding a new station has a high cost, and without charity gaming it will not be possible
Without Chaity Gaming, many of the purchases we have made and hope to make will not be possible.
In addition to our charity gaming, many other local fire departments, youth groups and civic organizations within Prince George's County conduct these events as a main source of revenue.
If you are a Maryland resident ...
PLEASE WRITE, CALL AND E-MAIL YOUR HOUSE AND SENATE REPRESENTATIVES
Ask them to extend the sunset deadline on casinos indefinetely. This excellent means of revenue can benefit everyone in Maryland with added tax revenue for the state that will save the average taxpayer. In PG County, each homeowner is saved $77 in property taxes with the revenue from the charity games!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP Please e-mail us!!!
THIS SITE WILL BE UPDATED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE UPCOMING DAYS, TO INCLUDE
LINKS TO THE MARYAND STATE HOUSE AND INFORMATION, GRAPHICS AND PICTURES.
Updated October 23, 1996