Page 6 - March 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SAN DIEGO GAMING GUIDE
Third Annual Matt LaChappa Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament at Barona Creek Golf Club
Tribes in the News
Page 6
MARCH 2002
The third annual Matt LaChappa Athletic Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 6th at 11 a.m. The Matt LaChappa Athletic Scholarship Foundation helps young athletes in San Diego’s East County reach their dreams of
pursuing higher education. In 2000, 12 high school students received scholarships and 20 scholarships were awarded in 2001.
700 square miles. Established 28 years ago, it provides Sycuan Reservation residents much needed services. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provided wild re suppression only, and responded to structure res that posed a threat to the wildlands. Since this service was only for the six-month re season, Indian reservations were without any type of re- ghting ser- vice for the winter months.
The San Diego Of ce of Fire Services formed Vol- unteer Departments within the County to provide Structural/EMS services to backcountry residents who were in the same situation as the 18 Indian reservations. The Fire Service Of ce provides equipment, training, and a dispatch service. The local community provides personnel. The Sycuan tribe entered into an agreement with a local Federal Manpower Training Program to pay for the re ghters. The Alpine Fire Protection District agreed to train six re ghters over a one-year period in structural re suppression and rst aid. The Califor- nia Department of Forestry provided a 40-hour wildland academy.
Over the years, Sycuan has sent personnel to be trained who are motivated and can give 110 percent to the depart- ment. Each individual must pass an annual rigorous phys- ical tness test. The Sycuan Fire Department responds to approximately 3,500 calls a year.
As a young child growing up on the Barona Indian Reservation, Matt LaChappa partici- pated in team and high school sports and demonstrated star potential. The San Diego Padres selected Matt in their second round draft pick in 1993. He reached his dream of playing professional
baseball for a Padres team,
the Rancho Cucamonga
Quakes. His dream came to
an unfortunate halt during
his third season. Matt suf-
fered a severe heart attack
while he was warming up
in the bullpen to pitch. In
a coma for several months,
leading medical specialists didn’t think that Matt would survive. With his spirit and strong desire, Matt beat the odds. Today, Matt’s heart is 100% healthy and he is committed to reach-
ing his next dream—walking again. In honor of Matt’s love of sports, his desire to help children and his belief that team sports help build self-esteem, character and commitment, Matt’s parents, Linda and Clifford LaChappa, created an athletic scholarship foundation in Matt’s honor. For more information about the fund, contact the Barona Tribal
Of ce at (619) 443-6612. Friends ofthescholarshipfundcanpledge and sponsor via the golf tourna- ment. Registration for the tourna- ment ends Friday, March 22, 2002. For more information, please call Beaver Curo at (619) 443-6612 or Mado Noetzel at (619) 443-3130, x3172.
Sycuan Fire Department Serves the Community
The Sycuan Fire Department provides service to both reservation and non-reservation residents covering some