Correction: This story originally misstated the recipients of the annual distribution of funds.

Since the Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino opened in November 2024, the Wind Creek Southland Public Benefit Fund tied to the project already is approaching $3 million. 

The fund was created to support scholarships and healthcare across both East Hazel Crest and Homewood, with contributions from both villages and the casino. 

The benefit fund’s board includes East Hazel Crest Mayor Thomas Brown, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, and Roger Kuehn, executive vice president and general  manager of Wind Creek Chicago Southland. 

While the group has yet to hold its first official meeting, Brown said the delay has been mainly administrative. 

“We just got all that setup,” Bown said. “The paperwork, figuring out where we should send it, which bank, it’s all just been getting finalized.” 

The fund was established as part of the casino’s agreement with Homewood and East Hazel Crest. Wind Creek agreed to contribute $2 million annually for five years, while each village committed half its gaming revenue for the first four years. 

Wind Creek already has paid its first $2 million. East Hazel Crest has contributed $389,000 through April, and Homewood has contributed $300,000. 

By the end of this year, Brown expects the fund will total nearly $3 million. 

Brown said the board will likely hold its first meeting in the next few months. Once the board meets, members will finalize agreements with the fund’s designated recipients.

Those include Prairie State College, South Suburban College, Moraine Valley Community College, Advocate South Suburban Hospital and the Ingalls Development Foundation. Each year, at least $150,000 will be distributed, with 10% going to Moraine Valley Community College, 20% to Prairie State College, 20% to South Suburban College, 25% to Ingalls Development Foundation and 25% to Advocate South Suburban Hospital.

“Accountability will be critical,” said Brown.

Hofeld agreed that accountability will be key. 

“It’s fairly straightforward with scholarships. You can see where the money goes,” he said. “In the case of the medical uses, I want them to tell us what they need and how they’re gonna use the money.” 

Brown said the board will likely favor education uses that benefit disadvantaged kids. 

“We don’t want this money just to pay administrators or college presidents,” Brown said. “We want it to go to disadvantaged kids because that’s what the gaming board application said. That’s where the money is supposed to go.”

The hospitals initially pledged to use their share to improve access to healthcare, especially cancer screenings for women who cannot afford them. 

“They told us 83% of the Black women in our area don’t get cancer screenings because they can’t afford it,” Brown said. “We said, ‘Do that. Use the money for that.'” 

The board hasn’t yet received detailed spending plans from hospitals but intends to provide transparency. Brown said, “We’re going to hold them to the fire; we want to make sure it goes to the people, not salaries.” 

Initially, the fund was intended to finance a trauma center at South Suburban Hospital, but that plan changed after a leadership shift at the hospital. Recalling the situation, Brown said, “We got to the final deadline to put in the application, they had a new president, and the president says, ‘We don’t want that.’ So we shifted it to the scholarships.” 

Eventually, the fund could reach $20 million, providing scholarships for years to come, Brown shared. 

“At that point, it probably would pay for everybody’s kids,” said Brown, who recalled how he paid his own way through college education. “What greater thing can we do for the kids than pay for their college? That’s my favorite thing about this.”

He said recipients will be announced when disbursements begin. Contributions continue to be made regularly, and East Hazel Crest is transferring its portion quarterly and monthly, he said. 

“It’s just like we said it would be,” Brown said. “Wind Creek put in their $2 million, and both villages are adding their half of gaming revenue. There were some paperwork delays, but we’re moving forward; by the end of the year, we would have about $3 million.” 

Looking ahead, Brown said he’d like to explore ways to expand the fund in supporting students attending four-year colleges, although that would require approval from the state gaming board. 

“It’ll probably be a discussion at some point,” he said. “I would personally love to see that.”