When Greenetrack first opened as a dog track, provisions were made to hold two special days each year, with part of the handle from live dog racing and later from simulcasting going to non-profit organizations in Greene County.

These two days are called Charity Days at Greenetrack and the second one in 2011 will be held on July 2.

To be eligible for Charity Day funds, an organization must be a non-profit operating in Greene County and must submit an application to the Greene County Racing Commission.

For several years, the income from Charity Day was significant, but since the two raids by Republican officials and the seizure of the electronic bingo machines, the handle has fallen off, despite the fact that none of the Charity Day money came from bingo.

Most people believe that the decrease in funds comes from a decrease in people coming to Greenetrack.

Last year in 2011, the total for both days totalled only $7,000. However, the non-profits, many of whom suffer from a chronic lack of funds, were thankful to get their share.

Those getting Charity Day funds in 2010 were:

Greene County Self Help Youth Group, Woman to Woman, Clinton Community Center, Carver Middle School for a school project, Greene County Children’s Policy Council, Greene County High School football project, Tishabee Community Center, Greene County High School baseball project, Greene County High Band Boosters, Greene County, High Girls’ Basketball Boosters, Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department, Greene County High Consumer Science Department, Greene County High Business Department, Paramount Jr. High 4th Grade Teachers.

Hopefully, more people will attend Charity Day this year, and in this way help the many non-profits who so badly need the funding. Many of these non-profits are geared to help the youth of Greene County.