Tioga Downs CEO Jeff Gural presents the Marine Corps League with a personal donation of $5,000 Sunday to buy gifts for local children ages 11 to 13 whose families were affected by September’s flooding. Colin Hogan/Morning Times NICHOLS — In the spirit of the giving season, Tioga Downs CEO Jeff Gural spent the afternoon Sunday giving away over $100,000 to five different local charities.

“We did well this year, despite being closed after the flood,” said Gural. “So we’re happy to give back to the community.”

The Southern Tier Veterans Support Group received the largest amount of $65,011, which Gural said came from ticket proceeds from the recent Wynonna Judd concert.

Al Eaton, president of the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group, said the money will go toward helping assist local deployed veterans and their families.

The Salvation Army was given $14,195 and the Community Care Network of Nichols was given $10,000. Gural said the money for those donations came from proceeds from the recent Sha Na Na concert and patrons’ flood relief donations at the County Fair Buffet.

Gural gave away personal donations of $5,000 to both the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) and the Marine Corps League, which will be providing Christmas gifts to children ages 11 to 13 whose families have been affected by flooding.

Marine Corps League Commandant Jack Kalb said Tioga Downs has also donated a substantial amount of toys to the league’s efforts.

“In addition to the $5,000 today, they also donated approximately $10,000 in gifts,” said Kalb.

“He has been very generous to us,” said CHOW director Ed Blaine.

Blaine said the donation will go toward re-stocking the warehouses food supply, which he said was largely wiped out due to September’s flood. He added that Tioga Downs had also previously donated $25,000 to CHOW shortly after the flood in September.

——— Colin Hogan can be reached at colin@morningtimes.com