Microgaming, an Isle of Man-based casino software developer, has revealed that it is celebrating a year since its PlayItForward initiative launched a dedicated space for its employees to nominate and vote for worthy causes.

The organization’s corporate social responsibility program, which has resulted in an amount of over £50,000 in charitable donations being raised, is now in its fifth year, and continues to support communities in areas such as charity, health, sport and education.

Microgaming launched its employee-driven charitable voting program in April of last year that was targeted at driving engagement with the program which has, to date, attracted more than 4,000 votes.

Kate Moughtin, Senior CSR Manager at Microgaming, commented by saying that they have been overwhelmed by employee support for this new way of voting for good causes through PlayItForward.

Moughtin went on to say that as a knock-on-effect, the number of volunteers stepping forward to help with their charity work increased tenfold since the program was introduced.  She added that she would like to thank everyone who put forward a cause close to their heart, who took the time to take a vote and, overall, for helping them make a real difference in the community.

Paula Lunt, the founder of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, explained that her charity is about screening young people from the age of 14 to 35.  She added that they have screened over 8,000 young people and detected about 150 heart problems to date.

Lunt added that they also donate defibrillators, having donated over 300 on the island.  She also thanked everyone for voting for the Craig Heartstrong Foundation and said that the PlayItForward donation is amazing and that it went towards their screening at the beginning of April.