My name is Kasey Binion and I am a resident of Chesterfield County and member of Manchester Richmond Moose Family Center 699 located in North Chesterfield. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming as a result of SB 1127, I urge you to consider all of the activities in our Lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, primarily provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter, healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin cities is the cornerstone of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. As a member of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, we support the following charities: Mooseheart/Moosehaven Fisher House @ McGuire Hospital Chesterfield Fire Station #4 MAC Program Sitter/Barfoot Rehab Center Manchester HS Choral Boosters Camp Baker Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center Chesterfield Fire Station #20 Special Olympics Area 6 Disabled American Veterans Richmond Animal League American Heart Association Chesterfield Food Bank Service Dogs of Virginia VCU Children’s Hospital Youth Awareness Program Vetshouse Inc. Alzheimer’s Association of GR Forest View Rescue Squad Salvation Army VCU Massey Cancer Center Homeless Vets @McGuire Hosp. Susan G. Komen Research Richmond Hornets 11u Team RVA Humble Beginnings Senior Games DSAGR Chesterfield Christmas Mother Manchester Rescue Squad Cub Scout Pack #1892 Boys & Girls Club Virginia House at Mooseheart NWTF Safe Surfin’ Foundation Chesterfield County Police Fdn. Old Dominion Cott. Moosehaven Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Charitable Foundation and several other state and national charities benefit from the charitable gaming our lodge operates. I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully yours, Kasey Binion

My name is Bill Baker and I am a member of Dale City Moose Lodge/Family Center 2165. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming as a result of SB 1127, I urge you to consider all of the activities in our lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter, healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin cities is the cornerstone of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. The Safe Surfin Foundation, Special Olympics, Massey Cancer Center at VCU, and several other state and national charities benefit from the charitable gaming our lodge operates. I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully yours, Bill Baker

My name is Terry Treadwell and I am a member of Woodbridge MooseFamily Center 583. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming as a result of SB 1127, I urge you to consider all of the activities in our lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter, healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin cities is the cornerstone of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. The Safe Surfin Foundation, Special Olympics, Massey Cancer Center at VCU, and several other state and national charities benefit from the charitable gaming our lodge operates. (ENTER YOUR LODGE SPECIFIC INFORMATION HERE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES) I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully yours, Terry Treadwell, President Virginia Moose Association

My name is Deborah A Moore and I am a member of Sandston Moose Lodge/Family Center #1937. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming as a result of SB 1127, I urge you to consider all of the activities in our Lodge and Community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter, healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin cities is the cornerstone of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. The Safe Surfin Foundation, Special Olympics, Massey Cancer Center at VCU, and several other State and National charities benefit from the charitable gaming our lodge operates. We host and donate each year to the “Shop with a Cop”, Henrico Police Foundation, St. Jude’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of VCU and Donate for Life to just name a few. We also host monthly events for our community kids in the area. I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully yours, Deborah A Moore

I am a member of Moose Lodge 975 in Appomattox. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming, as a result of SB 1127; I urge you to consider all of the activities in our lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin cities is the cornerstorne of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. The Safe Surfin Foundation, Special Olympics, Massey Cancer Center at VCU, and several other state national charities benefit from the charitable gaming, our lodge operates. I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. We help veterans in need, sick children and their families with expenses, and most recently our local football coach, who is battling cancer. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully, Jane Vaughan Senior Regent Appomattox VA Lodge 975

My name is Donna Nash and I am a member of Moose Lodge 975 in Appomattox. I have volunteered over 23 years donating both time and money, assisting this Lodge to not only help it succeed and grow, but it was important that we build a reputation that served our community. As your subcommittee studies charitable gaming, as a result of SB1127; I urge you to consider all of the activities in our lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support. Our organization, established over 100 years ago, provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart. Additionally, we provide shelter healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven. Support of our twin citiesis the cornerstorne of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community. The Safe Surfin Foundation, Special Olympics, Massey Cancer Center at VCU, and several other state national charities benefit from the charitable gaming, our lodge operates. I urge you and the subcommittee to oppose any further regulation of gaming in the private social quarters of our lodges and freeze the threshold for use of proceeds of permitted sessions involving the public. Most of the proceeds from this gaming benefits our communities at large as outlined above as well as our fraternal foundation of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. We help veterans in need, sick children and their families with expenses, and most recently our local football coach, who is battling cancer. Mandating use of proceeds from private social quarters gaming would significantly diminish our ability to continue supporting these worthwhile endeavors. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Respectfully, Donna Nash

VIRGINIA ELKS ASSOCIATION State Government Relations Chairman August 23, 2021 To all Joint Committee Members It is understood that a portion of Senate Bill 1127 is described as follows: (ii) whether proceeds from instant bingo, pull tabs, and seal cards should be included when calculating an organization's gross receipts; If this portion of the Bill is approved and signed into law, there will be a lot of community and charitable projects that will suffer. For the Lodge Year ending 3/31/2020, Virginia Elks Lodges donated in value some $5,675,000 to Voluntary, Charitable and Community Service Programs, such as their Youth Camp in Millboro, Drug Awareness Programs, Veterans Projects, Scholarships, as well as Food Banks, individual medical needs, and the list goes on. In all, over 267,000 Virginians benefitted from our programs. Even with the COVID pandemic, Elks Lodges throughout Virginia still donated $1,500,000 in value for these same types of worthwhile programs for the Lodge Year ending 3/31/2021. Efforts are being made to return our donations back to normal. Am asking that this portion of Senate Bill No. 1127 not be approved. The monies earned from the subject activities is used to help our organization to promote these worthwhile community functions Elks Care – Elks Share. That is our motto. Please advise of the vote and update on this Bill. Thank you very much for your kind consideration. Bob Conway Elks State Chair Government Relations Conway.r@conway-rauch.com

My name is Augusta J. Hite, I am the CEO and Founder of HandUp Community Resource Center a non-profited organization located on the southside of Richmond, Virginia. We have been operating in the area since June 17, 2016. When I opened HCRC, I was aware of the hurdles and barriers that laid ahead as a black founded and operated non-profit here in the commonwealth. I have been in the human service field for over 25 years as an educator, community and school counselor, mental health professional and business owner. During my years in these various roles, I have observed the huge disparities and services for minorities. HCRC is and continues to be a passion and a tool to hopefully lessen these gaps in services for our individuals in low social economic situations trapped in poverty. As a newly formed black led non-profit funding sources have been limited and consideration is typically given first to our well know white counterparts. This phenomenon has left many black organizations and clubs with little to know financial support. The mission of HandUP Community Resource Center outreach efforts is a straightforward statement of its purpose: To strengthen low-social-economic families and neighborhoods using a community economic development strategy that includes; helping families in transition, promoting positive mental health such as counseling services, providing economic opportunities such as home ownership, employment skills, social skills, job creation, and business development; providing affordable housing; and encouraging the total well-being of the families and communities we serve, HandUP Community Resource Centers embraces the philosophy to provide efficient support to promote stability through effective services tailored for individuals in transition. HCRC continues to work with non-profit and governmental agency to provide services to Virginia most vulnerable population. We serve our community by: • Providing the largest Food Bank in the Feed More Network • Transitional and Permanent Housing Program for Homeless Veterans • Case Management Service for Mental Health and Eviction Prevention • Vetlink (Virginia 1st Veteran Service Center) a walk-in center for veterans to receive mail, take showers, wash clothes, health services, and two meals daily. • Certified Peer Recovery Services (Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Domestic Violence) • Affordable Housing • 2nd Chance Initiative Program (Returning Citizens) Bingo and other forms of charitable gaming are critical to our ability to stay open and provide the services that our members and community rely on. Over the years, we have had to adapt our games within very tight rules from the Charitable Gaming Board to keep people coming back to support us. It is no different than hosting a black-tie event to raise money. We need fun games that keep our member’s attention so that we can continue to raise money to support our mission. We know that there are some people who are taking advantage of the charitable gaming laws, and we want to stop that behavior as much as you do. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1127 creates an environment where it is not worth the time or effort to continue operating charitable gaming activities for any of us. But, without that revenue source I don’t think we will be able to continue provide such a high level of service to our clients.

Please be informed that Virginia Union University staunchly oppose Senate Bill 1127 as passed in the budget. One of the mechanisms Virginia Union University uses to raise funds and support students of minority status in their educational journey are the proceeds from charitable gaming. Charitable gaming has positively affected our student base who are socially and economically disadvantaged and yet are still a vital sector of our economy. Virginia Union University is a 501(c)(3) non-profit as regulated by the IRS. Further because we are considered private, we do not enjoy the benefit of receiving funds from the Virginia Lottery. As such, charitable gaming is a mechanism of at least attempting to bridge this disparity gap which has plagued the Commonwealth’s minority communities for many generations. Because our institution and our community have a tremendous stake in this legislation, we have strongly opposed Senate Bill 1127 in the past because, while it attempts to include our community in the equation, it does so in a very limited way by precluding charitable gaming for our institution throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently the legislation as passed allows our institutions to engage in charitable gaming within the jurisdiction and adjacent jurisdictions in which our principle offices are located. This is another example of the disparity placed upon our institutions and our students. The Virginia Lottery is allowed to serve the entire Commonwealth of Virginia for its public institutions of higher learning. Yet our institutions, who serve students of minority status throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, are limited to a mere couple of counties. Expanding the legal locations to conduct charitable gaming would enable the Virginia Hispanic African American Alliance to expand charitable gaming as a means of raising direly needed scholarship funds for these under-served populations. Virginia Union University was founded in 1875 and took its present name in 1899. It has educated students from all walks of life and from the vast majority of the counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Union’s history demands an acknowledgment of the breath of our voter base. As such, we urge you to take into consideration these concerns as you your joint subcommittee revisits this legislation. If the members of the Joint Subcommittee believe that better control or reform of charitable gaming should be implemented, then we support you wholeheartedly. However, it is not reform to deny a significant segment of our community, such as Virginia Union University, the opportunity to participate in the drafting of legislation that impacts socially and economically disadvantaged students who are a strong and vibrant voting segment our community. As such we strongly oppose this legislation in its current form. I would be happy to offer testimony or supporting materials as the committee conducts its work. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. Sincerely, Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D. President & CEO Virginia Union University

Please be informed that the Virginia Hispanic Foundation, the educational and non-profit subsidiary of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, staunchly oppose Senate Bill 1127 as passed in the budget. Over a year ago, Virginia Union University and the Virginia Hispanic Foundation created an organization known as the Virginia Hispanic African American Alliance. This alliance was created to educate and promote in the workforce students of minority status who are historically socially and economically disadvantaged. One of the primary mechanisms we use to raise funds and support these students in their educational journey are the proceeds from electronic charitable gaming. Charitable gaming has positively affected our student base who are socially and economically disadvantaged and yet are still a vital sector of our economy. The Virginia Hispanic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit as regulated by the IRS. As such, electronic charitable gaming is a mechanism of at least attempting to bridge the disparity gap which has plagued our minority communities for many generations. Because our Foundation and the Virginia Hispanic African American Alliance that serves our community has a tremendous stake in this legislation, we have opposed Senate Bill 1127 in the past because, while it attempts to include our community in the equation, it does so in a very limited way by precluding electronic charitable gaming for our Foundation throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently the legislation as passed allows the Virginia Hispanic Foundation to engage in electronic charitable gaming only within the jurisdiction and adjacent jurisdictions in which our principle office is located. This is another example of the disparity placed upon our institutions and our students. The Virginia Lottery is allowed to serve the entire Commonwealth of Virginia for its public institutions of higher learning. Yet our Foundation and the Alliance, who serve students of minority status throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, are limited to a mere couple of counties. Expanding the legal locations to conduct electronic charitable gaming would enable the Virginia Hispanic African American Alliance to expand electronic charitable gaming as a means of raising direly needed scholarship funds for these under-served populations. If the members of the Joint Subcommittee believe that better control or reform of electronic charitable gaming should be implemented, then we support you wholeheartedly. However, it is not reform to deny a significant segment of our community, such the Virginia Hispanic Foundation and the Virginia Hispanic African American Alliance, the opportunity to participate in the drafting of legislation that impacts socially and economically disadvantaged students who are a strong and vibrant voting segment our community. As such we strongly oppose this legislation in its current form. I would be happy to offer testimony or supporting materials as the committee conducts its work. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. Sincerely, Michel Zajur President Virginia Hispanic Foundation

The use of gambling machines in convenience stores are actually devastating minority communities. The machines help nobody with the exception of the convenience store owners. These owners make a huge profit on people coming into their store with perhaps $20 to buy some bread eggs and milk. The customer sees the machine and because it is so easy to access, they put their $20 in the machine hoping that they'll walk away with 30 dollars. As we all know this does not happen. The customer walks away with no food and the convenience store owner just made money off of somebody that needed food. The convenience store owners claim that they, along with the community want the machines, this is not true. not true in anyway shape or form. These machines have devastated families especially in minority communities. A casino is different. If a person wants to gamble his or her money in a casino, that person has to make a separate trip to the casino, and this is not nearly as convenient as a gambling device in a convenience store. Communities are better off without these machines and convenience stores. Thank you