Our guests’ generosity inspires us to do more. By matching their donations, we’re doubling the difference we can make in our local.”

Aaron Seehusen, Treasure Island Resort and Casino public relations manager

Treasure Island Resort & Casino
5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd
Welch, MN 55089
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Treasure Island Resort and Casino and the Prairie Island Indian Community are preparing to significantly expand their charitable footprint in 2026, building on decades of community giving with a new approach that puts guests at the center of the effort.
Through the Island Impact program and an expanded Charity of the Month initiative, every dollar donated by guests throughout 2026 will be matched by Treasure Island and the Prairie Island Indian Community. The effort is expected to generate nearly $1 million for nonprofits serving southeastern Minnesota and the surrounding region, an amount that nearly equals what the Charity of the Month program raised in its first five years combined.
The program reflects a long-standing commitment by Prairie Island to reinvest proceeds from Tribal Gaming back into the community. Since the casino opened in 1984, nearly $30 million has been contributed to charitable causes, supporting education, health and wellness, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
“Giving back is central to who we are as Dakota people,” said Grant Johnson, Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council president. “Our ancestors taught us to care for our neighbors and to share our resources for the good of all. This expanded initiative is a reflection of that belief — tribal gaming for good.”
Charity of the Month has been part of Treasure Island’s community giving since 2020, when guests were first invited to support a different nonprofit each month through activities like Charity Bingo and by donating unclaimed slot tickets. Over time, the program grew steadily, ultimately raising more than $1.3 million through guest contributions alone.
As Treasure Island formally launched Island Impact in 2025 as its corporate social responsibility platform, leaders took a closer look at how the Charity of the Month program could evolve. Listening sessions with guests and nonprofit partners made one thing clear. People wanted to do more, and they wanted their dollars to go further.
“That’s when we had decided that we wanted to come alongside of our casino guests and make Charity of the Month bigger and better, and double down and match all of the donations that are coming in,” said Kristin Edmundson of Treasure Island.
Beginning in January 2026, Treasure Island and Prairie Island will match all guest donations made through the Charity of the Month program. While monthly totals will vary, officials estimate that guests typically contribute between $30,000 and $35,000 each month. With matching funds and additional sponsorships and programming, the combined annual impact is projected to reach nearly $1 million.
“Our guests’ generosity inspires us to do more,” said Aaron Seehusen, Treasure Island Resort and Casino public relations manager. “By matching their donations, we’re doubling the difference we can make in our local communities.”
Selecting the 2026 nonprofit partners was a months-long process that emphasized local impact and thoughtful planning. A total of 57 nonprofit organizations applied to participate. From there, a nine-member community engagement committee made up of Treasure Island team members from across departments reviewed applications, conducted site visits and evaluated how each organization aligned with Island Impact’s guiding pillars.
Those pillars include cultural awareness and education, economic empowerment, health, wellness and equity, and environmental stewardship. Input from the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council also helped shape the final selections.
“It was a long process,” Edmundson said. “But really beneficial to have the input of our team members, as well as Tribal Council, to get us to where we were able to make those announcements.”
The result is a slate of 12 nonprofits, one featured each month in 2026, representing a wide range of community needs.
Hastings Family Service will kick off the year in January, followed by CARE Clinic in February and the Red Wing Area Food Shelf in March. Other partners include organizations focused on environmental education, youth development, housing stability, disability services, cultural preservation and women’s resources. The full lineup spans communities in Hastings, Red Wing, Goodhue County and beyond.
For Hastings Family Service, being selected as the January partner is both an honor and a timely boost.
“As one of the organizations, we are super grateful to have come through a process like that and be selected,” said Amy Sutton, executive director and chief executive officer of Hastings Family Service. “It’s a big deal for us.”
January is traditionally a quieter month for donations at Hastings Family Service, even as demand for food assistance and emergency financial help remains high. In 2026, that pressure will be compounded by the loss of county funding for emergency cash assistance, which previously supported families facing financial crises.
“For us, we know in 2026 already that the need is going to continue to escalate,” Sutton said. “Having this launch in January really helps us be able to keep our services sustained at the level that we’re currently at and grow from there.”
Sutton said the Charity of the Month funds will help Hastings Family Service maintain food programs while allowing other resources to support emergency financial assistance, ensuring families can stay housed and stable during difficult times.
The selection process also allowed nonprofits to share their anticipated needs for the year ahead, giving Treasure Island a clearer picture of where support would be most impactful.
“We had the opportunity to put out there, here are the places that we think next year we’re going to see a tremendous need,” Sutton said. “They came back and said, yes, we’d like to help with that.”
Treasure Island also worked with each nonprofit to determine which month would be the best fit, taking into account seasonal challenges and community events. For Hastings Family Service, January aligned not only with heightened need but also with local pride, coinciding with Hockey Day Minnesota celebrations in Hastings.
“We knew we wanted a strong partner to kick us off in January,” Edmundson said. “We were just so impressed when we came and did a site visit, the way that they were organized, the way volunteers were working, and the dignity of the experience for people coming in. It just felt like a great fit.”
Beyond financial support, Island Impact places a strong emphasis on storytelling, visibility and hands-on engagement. Throughout each month, Treasure Island highlights its Charity of the Month through in-casino messaging, Charity Bingo announcements and community outreach. Bingo callers are equipped with information about each nonprofit, helping guests understand where their donations are going.
The program also includes a volunteer component, offering Treasure Island team members opportunities to work directly with nonprofit partners.
“In addition to their generosity financially, this will include a volunteer component as well,” Sutton said. “They’re offering an opportunity for their folks to come and volunteer at the various nonprofits, and that really helps people understand what we do and how important volunteers are in making it happen.”
At Hastings Family Service, volunteers are the backbone of daily operations, from stocking shelves and packing food boxes to organizing clothing and holiday gifts. During the holiday season alone, the organization served 215 families with meals, and countless more with presents, a scale of effort that Sutton said can be overwhelming in the best possible way.
“We see generosity walk in one door, and we see people walk out another door with the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders,” she said. “That fills my cup every day.”
For Treasure Island and the Prairie Island Indian Community, those moments of impact are central to why the program exists. Committee members and Tribal Council representatives are invited to participate in site visits and check presentations, allowing them to see firsthand how donations translate into real help.
“It’s great to sit here and speak with Amy and see them in action,” Edmundson said. “We want to make sure we’re telling those stories and letting our team members know who our partners are and the difference they’re making.”
As 2026 approaches, leaders say the expanded Charity of the Month program represents both a milestone and a continuation of a long-standing philosophy.
“Our goal is to be a good neighbor,” Edmundson said. “These are the places our team members live, our guests live and work. This is about supporting the communities we call home.”
With guest generosity matched dollar for dollar and a carefully chosen group of nonprofit partners ready to put those funds to work, Island Impact is poised to make 2026 one of its most meaningful years yet.