The Food Bank and military personnel received good news at Vernon Downs on Friday afternoon, as American Racing and Entertainment  Chairman Jeff Gural announced he was donating thousands of dollars to the Food Bank and concert tickets to active duty military personnel.

The money donated is tied to two concerts at Vernon Downs. The music group "America" performed at the facility on July 5, with all the proceeds going to the Food Bank of Central New York. Gural matched the proceeds at the gate, bringing the total to $73,710.

"Charging 10 dollars for a concert is a bargain," Gural says. "So that helps our customers, and then giving all the money away, it helps me feel good about the fact that we've had such great support."

Vernon Downs hosts Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on August 29th, and for that concert, Vernon Downs is contributing 50 cents to the Food Bank of CNY, 50 cents to the Utica Food Bank and one dollar to the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center. 

"Not only does this help us to fill the programs for the holidays," Tom Slater, Executive Director of Food Bank of Central New York, says. "It helps us to ensure that there is adequate food supplies all year round."

In addition to the food bank donations, Gural is donating 2,000 tickets, worth $150,000, to the USO to benefit active duty military personnel.