Harrah's Joins Children Hospital Campaign

LAS VEGAS – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. has joined forces with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - the world's epicenter of pediatric medical research - to support the hospital's Thanks & Giving campaign. Thanks & Giving encourages people to give "Thanks" for the healthy children in their lives, while "Giving" to help children everywhere who are desperately ill and battling to stay alive.

Harrah's customers can participate in the program by making $1 contributions at the casino's buffet or by utilizing pre-printed envelopes located in their hotel rooms to mail contributions directly to St. Jude. Employees can donate to the program via voluntary payroll deductions. Harrah's will match donations up to $100,000.

Harrah's campaign begins Thursday, Nov. 25 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 28. St. Jude's national campaign begins the same day and runs until New Year's Day.

"St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has a profoundly important mission, and we're proud to be a partner in the Thanks & Giving effort," said Gary Loveman, Harrah's. "Every dollar our employees and customers raise will help fight cancer and other life-threatening illnesses that afflict millions of children worldwide."

Harrah's is one of more than 50 national corporations and businesses that have partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the Thanks & Giving campaign. Celebrities such as Antonio Banderas, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, Hilary Duff, Queen Latifah, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tiger Woods, Ray Romano, Will Smith, Faith Hill and Robin Williams also have joined the effort.

"Thanks & Giving provides an opportunity for everyone to give something back this holiday season," said Richard C. Shadyac, chief executive officer of ALSAC/St. Jude, the hospital's fund-raising arm. "We are grateful to have generous companies like Harrah's Entertainment as our partner in this initiative. These wonderful corporate partners are educating the American public on the life-saving work being done at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and ensuring that we can continue finding cures and saving children."

In addition to donating at Harrah's, consumers can shop where they see the Thanks & Giving logo in stores, malls and online shopping sites; proceeds from designated purchases will benefit St. Jude.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude opened its doors in 1962 and sees roughly 200 children per day. The hospital, located in Memphis, shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatment not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

St. Jude has increased the survival rate of the most common form of childhood cancer from 4 percent when the hospital opened to 86 percent today. The hospital is the nation's third-largest charity, supporting a daily operating cost of $1 million.

Various subsidiaries of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. own or manage 28 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's and Horseshoe brand names. Founded 66 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its valued customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology.

Additional information about Harrah's Entertainment is available at http://www.harrahs.com.