Left to right-Henry Wojtaszek/ Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO, Ray Melens, Lead Mentor for the Monroe County Veterans Court, Dennis Bassett/OTB Board Chair, Sean Schiano/Vice President of Operations/Batavia Downs Gaming
Press release
BATAVIA – Batavia Downs Gaming President and CEO presented representatives from the Monroe County Veterans Treatment Court with a check for $8,800 to help support their efforts of assisting Veterans within the court system.
On August 17th, a Vets night dinner was held at Batavia Downs in conjunction with a night of live racing. Proceeds from live and penny auctions were collected in support of the Monroe County Veterans Treatment Court.
“We are appreciative to Sean Schiano and Batavia Downs for hosting this event again, “said Ray Melens, Lead Mentor for the Monroe County Veterans Court. “These funds are so important for us to continue our work. Now more than ever we are assisting Veterans who need help within the court system. We continue to help identify and treat any underlying issues that these brave men and woman face to help them get back on the right track.”
“Veterans have a special meaning for Batavia Downs, “said Wojtaszek. “So many of our own employees helped find items and baskets for the Penny Auction. Special thanks to Michael Horton, our director from Stueben County, who was the auctioneer for the exciting live action that was the highlight of the event.”
About Batavia Downs/WROTB
Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia, NY. WROTB owns and operates 9 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated over $232 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of participating municipalities.
About Veterans Treatment Court
The Veterans Treatment Court program is available to eligible Veterans with non-violent criminal charges who have either a substance abuse or mental health diagnosis. The goal of VTC is to treat the underlying issues that are at the root of the criminal behavior. With intensive case management, the Veteran is given all the tools they need to return to being a productive member of society. This group of Veterans is further supported by the opportunity to attend a variety of peer groups on a voluntary basis while they are in treatment and after their discharge.