Delta Downs gives $200,000 to Family and Youth

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel donated $200,000 to the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana on Monday to help fund an expansion of the Children’s Advocacy Center at the Family and Youth Counseling Agency.

The donation — the largest made by Delta Downs in the Southwest Louisiana area — puts the funding over the $1 million mark, or nearly 70 percent of the goal. Roxanne Camara, Family Foundation vice president, said the 7,200-squarefoot expansion will allow the advocacy center to interview more children who may be victims of physical or sexual abuse.

Erika Simon, Family and Youth Counseling Agency vice president, said more than 700 interviews were conducted at the center last year, far more than the 125 annual interviews it can currently handle.

William Boyd is the executive chairman of Boyd Gaming, which operates Delta Downs. He said the donation represents the company’s goal of giving back to the community.

“This is something we’ve always wanted to do, particularly to help young people get better and have a better life,” Boyd said.

Steve Kuypers, Delta Downs vice president and general manager, said a search for a contractor is expected to start by the end of October.

“It’s a shame that we have to expand because that means there’s more incidents that are going on,” he said. “Boyd Gaming realized this and stepped up to the plate and said, ‘Let’s get this built to help Southwest Louisiana.’ ”

Julio Galan, Family and Youth president and CEO, said the contribution will allow the organization to serve more families in the region.

Online: fyca.org/foundation-campaign