SGLA gives $10,000 to Illinois recovery ranch

The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance is donating $10,000 to help expand 2nd Story Ranch, a 68-acre recovery community in Crete, Illinois, that combines housing, work and peer support for men in early recovery from substance use disorder. The project has already won $2 million in Illinois’ FY2027 budget and is preparing for a construction phase this fall.

Why it matters: - The donation supports a recovery model focused on the hardest part of treatment: what happens after people leave care. - 2nd Story Ranch aims to reduce relapse risk by pairing stable housing with work, structure and community support. - The project adds a new use for a former harness racing training facility in Crete, Illinois.

What happened: - The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance announced a $10,000 donation to the Second Story Foundation. - The money will support development of 2nd Story Ranch, a 68-acre recovery community in Crete. - The donation was announced Oct. 14, 2026. - SGLA Executive Director Sean J. Ostrow said the Ranch takes an innovative and practical approach to a challenge affecting families and communities in Illinois and across the country.

The details: - 2nd Story Ranch is designed for people who have completed treatment for substance use disorder. - Residents receive long-term housing free of charge. - Residents can stay as long as needed. - The Ranch is built around a working horse farm. - Daily responsibilities include caring for horses and the property. - The program is already operational. - Groundbreaking on the first phase of construction, which will significantly expand the site, is anticipated this fall. - Earlier this year, Illinois included $2 million for the project in the state’s FY2027 budget. - The Second Story Foundation is still raising private funds. - The Foundation operates recovery homes in Chicago’s south suburbs and is developing the Crete ranch as a residential recovery community. - The lodge and residences are expected to house up to 14 men. - The site will also include space for counseling, education and community events. - SGLA represents companies offering Social Plus games, which are free-to-play and freemium online entertainment experiences that include sweepstakes promotions. - SGLA said the contribution reflects its commitment to the communities where Social Plus players live and play. - SGLA’s operator partners include VGW, PLAYSTUDIOS, Yellow Social Interactive, ARB Interactive, B-Two Operations and Publishers Clearing House. - Other partners include payments providers Nuvei and Paysafe.

Between the lines: - The donation is small compared with the state money, but it helps validate the project as it moves toward expansion. - The ranch’s equine setting is not just symbolic. It is part of the daily recovery structure and workforce training model. - The project blends two identities that rarely overlap: addiction recovery and Illinois’ harness racing tradition. - The Second Story Foundation is targeting a vulnerable transition point, when people leaving treatment often need housing, work and support fast.

What's next: - The Second Story Foundation will continue raising private money for the project. - Groundbreaking on the first expansion phase is expected this fall. - The ranch is positioned to grow into a larger residential recovery community as construction moves forward. - More information is available on SGLA’s website and the Second Story Foundation’s site.