MGM Resorts donates $250,000 to McCain Institute to combat Human Trafficking

May 04, 2018

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LAS VEGAS, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ – As part of its contribution to the campaign to fight the global crime of human trafficking, MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) awarded $250,000 to the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University.

MGM Resorts International (PRNewsfoto/MGM Resorts International)

The nonpartisan think tank, founded in 2012, and inspired by the public service of Senator John McCain and his family, will use the gift to fund several initiatives to aid the vulnerable population of homeless youth and provide prevention measures.

"We are so grateful for the support of MGM Resorts International. This contribution allows us to deepen our work to protect our communities' most at-risk and vulnerable citizens from exploitation and abuse," said Cindy H. McCain, who serves on McCain Institute's Human Trafficking Advisory Council. "Partnerships like these take us one step closer to the day when no man, woman or child finds themselves ensnared in modern day slavery," added McCain.

Among the initiatives that will be funded are:

A certification program for service providers who work with runaway and homeless youth, a population that is vulnerable to exploitation.

Enhanced school-based prevention efforts, including teaching children how to avoid victimization, while training educators to identify child trafficking victims.

New multi-disciplinary approaches to eliminate forced labor from global supply chains.

"Youth homelessness is an urgent problem across our country. These children and teenagers are at great risk for human trafficking and other forms of exploitation," said Kristen L. Abrams, McCain Institute's senior program director for combating human trafficking. "To address this critical need, we are working to better equip those serving runaway and homeless young people so that they can help us prevent and end the exploitation of youth in transition," Abrams added.

According to the International Labour Organization, a U.N. agency, human trafficking is among the most widespread crimes in the world. The agency's most recent statistics, measured in 2016, found that an estimated 40.3 million people were in modern slavery, including 24.9 million in forced labor and 15.4 million in forced marriage. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labor, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors. 1

"As a leader in corporate responsibility, MGM Resorts and the hospitality industry have an important role to play in combating human trafficking," said Phyllis A. James, MGM Resorts Chief Diversity and Corporate Responsibility Officer. "We believe in an interdisciplinary approach to the issue, partnering with law enforcement at all levels, as well as governments, nonprofit social service and other organizations, businesses and communities at large. Our gift to the McCain Institute for research and development of best practices represents another dimension of our efforts."

This donation is another important milestone in MGM Resorts' anti-human trafficking efforts. In March of this year, The MGM Resorts Foundation donated $10,000 each to three nonprofits – the Embracing Project/The Center 4 Peace, SEEDS of Hope and The Rape Crisis Center – that provide services to victims of human trafficking.

MGM Resorts is also an active participant in the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaboration led by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department among local, state and federal law enforcement and members of the business, non-profit, faith-based and general communities to coordinate anti-trafficking strategies, share best practices and raise awareness about trafficking prevention and detection.

Further, MGM Resorts trains its security officers and other customer-facing employees across its properties to identify potential trafficking victims and appropriate response. In 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recognized ARIA Resort and Casino Security Department with the Director's Community Leadership Award for Aria's humanistic approach to potential trafficking victims. The award was created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America. Visit the FBI website at www.fbi.gov for more details.

And recently, MGM Resorts International affiliate MGM MACAU was named as a top 15 global finalist for the Stop Slavery Award by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the world's biggest news and information provider.

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February 21, 2003

The Honorable Kenny C. Guinn

Governor of Nevada

Capitol Building

Carson City, NV 89701

Dear Governor Guinn,

I am writing to express my concern regarding recent conflict-of-interest allegations involving Nevada State Athletic Commission Chairman, Luther Mack, and Vice Chairman, Dr. Tony Alamo, Jr. These allegations are particularly troubling in light of the historically high regard in which the Nevada Commission has been held.

The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which I chair, has worked diligently over the past seven years to curb the unscrupulous behavior that plagues the sport of boxing. Although two federal boxing laws have been enacted during this time, these laws have not been enforced by either federal or state officials, and the sport continues to cry out for reform. If true, the allegations concerning the Nevada State Athletic Commission described below would be contrary to the efforts of this Committee and Congress to improve the sport, and further evidence of the need for broader federal oversight of boxing.

As I assume you know, Dr. Alamo is the son of Mr. Tony Alamo, Sr., a Senior Vice President at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, a hotel licensed as a boxing promoter and regulated by the Nevada Commission, and considered by many as the world's premier venue for professional boxing matches. I understand that Dr. Alamo, who you appointed to the Nevada Commission in September 2001, was recently elevated to Vice Chairman by Chairman Mack, replacing the knowledgeable and well-respected former Vice Chairman, Dr. Flip Homansky.

It has been alleged that Dr. Alamo's relationship to the overseer of boxing at Mandalay Bay (his father, Mr. Alamo) conflicts with, or at a minimum, appears to conflict with Dr. Alamo's responsibility impartially to discharge his duty to regulate the sport of professional boxing on behalf of the State of Nevada. Dr. Alamo's original appointment to the Commission, and his recent promotion to vice chairman, have been widely criticized by many in the boxing industry.

In addition to concerns that have been raised regarding Dr. Alamo, conflict-of-interest allegations have also been leveled against Chairman Mack.

The Nevada State Code of Ethical Standards specifically states, "A public officer or employee shall not seek or accept any gift, service, favor, employment, engagement, emolument or economic opportunity which would tend improperly to influence a reasonable person in his position to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of his public duties. Furthermore, federal boxing law strictly prohibits any "person who administers or enforces State boxing laws" from receiving "any compensation from any person who sanctions, arranges, or promotes professional boxing matches."

Despite these proscriptions, I understand that Chairman Mack, a resident of Reno, Nevada, has on several occasions received significantly discounted room rates from Mr. Alamo and Mandalay Bay, including a December 2002 stay only two weeks before Mr. Mack promoted Dr. Alamo to vice chairman. When questioned during a February 7, 2003, interview with ESPN regarding his receipt of discounted room rates from Mandalay Bay, the Chairman responded that his conduct was not out of the ordinary, and added, "in all honesty, a lot of judges and referees get their rooms for free."

I strongly encourage you to review Dr. Alamo's position on the Commission to determine whether his continued service is in the best interest of professional boxing in your state, and to examine boxing officials' receipt of compensation from regulated entities. Given that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is considered the standard bearer for all boxing commissions in this country, it is imperative that you remain vigilant in maintaining the highest possible ethical standards.

Sincerely,

John McCain

Chairman

cc: The Honorable John Ashcroft, United States Attorney General

The Honorable Brian Sandoval, Nevada State Attorney General

Mr. Tim Lueckenhoff, President, Association of Boxing Commissions

Mr. Luther Mack, Chairman, Nevada State Athletic Commission

Dr. Tony Alamo, Jr., Vice Chairman, Nevada State Athletic Commission

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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/08/john-mccain-to.html