Tricia Simpson, Hollywood Casino Joliet receive philanthropic awards

Tricia Simpson and Hollywood Casino Joliet received the 2021 ExxonMobil Individual and Corporate Community Philanthropic Awards on Aug. 28 at Arroyo Trails by the People for Channahon Parks Foundation, according to a news release from the foundation.

Simpson received the award in the “individual” category. Hollywood Casino Joliet received the award in the “business” category.

Simpson has more than 30 years of experience in public and government affairs and corporate communications. She retired from Exxon Mobil Corporation after more than 20 years of service. She had worked in a variety of capacities: public affairs, government relations and issue advisor.

She was previously the public affairs director at two former nuclear weapons production facilities: Hanford, Washington, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Simpson has served as president of the AMITA St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation Board; president of the Rialto Square Theater Foundation board; president of the Channahon Economic Development Corporation; president of the board for the Community Foundation of Will County. She was a board member of the American Red Cross of the Illinois River Valley and the Joliet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She received the ATHENA Award from the Joliet Chamber of Commerce, the Founders Award from the AMITA St. Joseph Medical Center and the Superintendents Award from Joliet Township High School District 204.

Simpson serves the boards at Community Foundation of Will County and the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation. She volunteers at the Durango Food Bank and is a member of the Durango Rotary Club.

She is married to Danny. The couple has two sons: Chase and Ben.

Hollywood Casino Joliet has contributed nearly $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to support area non-profit organizations over the last 10 years.

It has supported Will County Habitat for Humanity, Cornerstone Services, Guardian Angel, the Northern Illinois Food Bank, and the People for Channahon Parks Foundation. Hollywood Joliet also supports scholarship programs at Joliet Junior College, Lewis University and St. Francis University.

Hollywood Casino Joliet is also a long-term investor of the Will County Center for Economic Development.

In 2020 Penn National Gaming, Hollywood Casino’s parent company provided for its charitable partners with $6 million from properties, despite properties being closed due to the pandemic.

The Penn National Gaming Foundation also created the COVID-19 Relief Fund “to provide financial assistance to its team members throughout the country with over $3.7 million in contributions from Penn’s board of directors, corporate executives and property leaders,” the release said.

Hollywood Joliet VP and General Manager, Lydia Garvey, serves as an inaugural member of Penn’s diversity committee.

In 2021, Hollywood Casino Joliet began Penn’s myHeroes to provide discounts and offers to veterans, first responders and active-duty military members.

For information, visit PeopleForChannahonParks.org or call 815-467-7275.