The 49 charity reps from the Knight Road Legacy Association will be picking up trailing payment cheques from Chances Chilliwack this week.
Chances Chilliwack issued a cheque this month for $262,000, based on the facility's performance in the first full year of operations.
"The trailing payment was higher than we anticipated," said Jerry Wernicke, president of the Knight Road Legacy Association.
It works out to a $4,900 share for each of the charities, which are the former owners and operators of Chilliwack Bingo.
"So going forward, things look very positive," he said.
The trailing payment cheques will be distributed to the member charities in Chilliwack on Saturday.
"Knight Road Legacy Association would like to recognize Chances Chilliwack as a great community and business partner that values the importance of giving back," said Wernicke.
Great Canadian Gaming didn't have a specific revenue target in mind, in terms of what they would be able to achieve in the first full year, which saw the first anniversary celebrated in November 2013.
"We did think that hitting our thresholds would be likely," said Chuck Keeling, spokesman for Great Canadian.
They had an inkling the outcome would be positive, given the fact that Chilliwack Bingo's revenues were among the highest in the province prior to the purchase by Great Canadian Gaming.
"Looking back we're very pleased with how everything's gone in Chilliwack, including our liquor licence approval," said Keeling. "Things are going wonderfully."
The first pro-rated cheque was issued last year after the first two month of operations at Chances.
"That's when we realized a trailing payment cheque every year would be quite realistic," said Keeling.
The agreement was that trailing payments would be forthcoming, using a formula for the local charities over 20 years, based on hitting all of Chances Chilliwack's revenue targets.
"We are absolutely thrilled and proud to be able to issue such a considerable amount to Knight Road Legacy Association as this group of charities and non-profit organizations is known for providing support to so many in the Chilliwack community," said Chris Lynn, Chances Chilliwack general manager.
The payments will be shared by: #147 Airwolf Air Cadets, 1725 Royal Canadian Military Army Cadets Corp., Alano Club of Chilliwack, Ann Davis Transition Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters Upper FV, Chilliwack & District Agricultural Society, Chilliwack Academy of Music, Chilliwack Community Arts Council, Chilliwack Community Band, Chilliwack Community Services, Chilliwack District Seniors Resource Society, Chilliwack Elks Lodge #48 BPOE, Chilliwack Family YMCA, Chilliwack Flight Festival Society, Chilliwack Hospice Society, Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary, Chilliwack Knights of Columbus, Chilliwack Minor Baseball, Chilliwack Minor Fastpitch, Chilliwack Minor Football, Chilliwack Minor Lacrosse, Chilliwack Museum & Historical Society, Cultus Lake Community School, Cultus Lake-Chilliwack Stingrays Swim Club, Fraser Valley Brain Injury, Fraser Valley Junior Football, Fraser Valley Shriner Club #11, Greater Vancouver Ski Patrol, Harrison Festival Society, Hobby Hill Preschool, Kiwanis Club of Chilliwack, Kiwanis Club of Sardis, Lions Stellar J, Mount Cheam Lions, Optimist Club of Chilliwack, Rotary Club Chilliwack Fraser, Rotary Club Mt Cheam, Royal Canadian Legion BR#280, Royal Canadian Legion BR#4, Royal Canadian Legion BR#4 LA, Saint John Ambulance, Sardis Elementary PAC, Sardis Fliers Speed Skating, Soroptimist International of Chilliwack, Spartan Swim Club, Track & Field, Vancouver Adapted Music, Vedder Elementary PAC and Watson Elementary PAC.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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