Red Cross Community Executive for the Southern Tier Chapter, Shelley Bierwiller, was present on Friday to deliver a plaque to Gural, and personally thank him for his support. On Friday, Gural was personally recognized by the American Red Cross for this generosity, and his support of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. In total, she added, American Racing and Entertainment, which includes Tioga Downs and its sister facility Vernon Downs Casino and Hotel, combined with personal funds from Gural, have donated over $1.4 million dollars.

According to Redder, over $900,000 has gone back into the local Southern Tier community over the years. The checks, according to Linn Redder, director of marketing at Tioga Downs, represent a small portion of their community support, in conjunction with personal donations from Gural. casino, presented close to $200,000 in checks to the Southern Tier Food Bank, The Goodwill Theater, the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group, and the Tioga County Senior Citizens Foundation. In true Christmas spirit, Gural, in a presentation held at the Nichols, N.Y.

and CEO of American Racing and Entertainment, LLC.

20, four area organizations benefited from the generosity of Tioga Downs and Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y.