Indiana Foundations Contribute to Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund

Stepping up to assist nearly 9,000 Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) employees displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Harrison County Community Foundation and the Caesars Riverboat Casino Foundation of Floyd County have pledged a total of $150,000 to the Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund.

The foundations were formed with the opening of Caesars Indiana Casino Hotel in 1998, with the mission of distributing a portion of revenues from Caesars Indiana to non-profit organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies in the two southern Indiana counties. Since their formation, Caesars Indiana has contributed $65.9 million to the foundations, which are managed by community leaders in the two counties.

The Harrison County Community Foundation pledged $100,000 to the Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund, while the Caesars Riverboat Casino Foundation of Floyd County contributed $50,000.

"As a member of this community, I am gratified by the concern the boards of these foundations have shown for the employees of our company impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Ed Garruto, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Indiana. "Their lending hand during this time of need is a testament to the close partnership we have developed with this community."

The Harrah's Employee Recovery Fund was seeded with an allocation of $1 million from the Harrah's Foundation. Including the contributions from the Harrison County and Floyd County foundations, about $2.5 million has been contributed or pledged to the fund, including more than $620,000 from Harrah's employees.

Separately, Harrah's re-opened the Lake Charles Employee Information Center today. Located at Harrah's Lake Charles hotel -- 505 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles -- the center is a resource for company employees who were displaced by the two hurricanes. The Information Center will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., Central Time, and includes such services as:

-- Assistance with compensation and benefits;

-- Counseling services;

-- Online access to crucial services and information, such as FEMA applications, mortgage information, unemployment information and online banking;

-- Listings of available shelters, local housing and transportation;

-- Information on nationwide job opportunities within the Harrah's network; and,

-- Access to e-mail and to the Harrah's Intranet with crucial relief and recovery information.

Employees can call the center at 337-437-6088 for specific information about the center and its services. Employees unable to visit the center in person can call this number or the Harrah's Employee Information line: 877-422-7466. Harrah's requests that all displaced employees call the information line so the company can account for all employees and direct them to relief services.