Page 16 - August 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Tribes Give Millions to Charitable Causes
Gifts Support Education, Social Services, Disaster Relief
by Rob Schmidt
Special to the Southern California Gaming Guide
“ e act of giving is deeply rooted in Native American culture, its signi cance impressed in the minds of youth at an early age. At their very core, Native Americans view giving as a spiritual act that honors both the giver and the receiver, an expression of caring for one’s fellow human beings.”
—Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians
I n Native cultures, there was traditionally no poverty or starvation. Tribes cared for the young, the helpless, and the aged. Strangers never lacked for food or shelter.
Now that Indian nations are nally earning a living through gaming, this tradition of giving continues.
In 2004, Indian gaming generated about $18.5 billion in gross revenue, according to a report by Alan P. Meister, manager of Analysis Group, Inc. Nationally, gaming tribes gave more than $100
million of that to charitable and philanthropic causes—mostly in their local communities. California’s tribes earned an estimated $5.3 billion, noted Meister—almost 30% of the total. It’s not certain how much they gave to charity, since many tribes don’t like to publicize their own good
•
Barona: California Highway Patrol, Inner-City Games, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
works. But it was a substantial amount.
In Southern California, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has led the way in recent years with several multimillion-dollar gifts. Other generous tribes in the region include:
• Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians: about $2.2 million each of the last two years.
• Morongo Band of Mission Indians: more than $2 million annually.
The Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians donated $335,000 to Community Partners in November 2004.
• Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians: $1.7 million in 2002.
• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians: $1.2 million in 2004; $11 million in 10 years.
• Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians: “seven figures” per year.
• Barona Band of Mission Indians: $9-10 million in 10 years.
Note: This article represents the latest data available, but it’s only a partial summary of tribal philanthropy.
Although tribes contribute to support a variety of social services, each one has its charitable priorities. San Manuel’s contributions include environmental stewardship, educational empowerment, and economic development. Viejas emphasizes Native causes, health and human services, and education. Agua Caliente focuses on children, the elderly, and public agencies.
Schools and youth activities, hospitals and medical research, and umbrella groups such as the United Way receive the biggest bequests. But Southland tribes support thousands of organizations of all types, as the following sampling shows:
• Morongo: Adopt a Highway, First Americans in the Arts, Riverside National Cemetery, Malki Museum,
Rape Crisis Center.
• Viejas: Burn Institute, California Conference on American Indian Education, American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee, Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
All this community support is in addition to the tribes’ payments to two special state funds. And to their voluntary contributions to local governments in lieu of taxes. (San Manuel gave a muni cent $5.5 million to the city of San Bernardino for public works improvements in 2004.) And to their donations to combat problem gambling. (California’s tribes have given the California Council on Problem Gambling roughly $600,000 since
1997, more than the California Lottery, racetracks, and card rooms combined.)
Gaming tribes have spread their charity widely, but some areas stand out.
Disaster Relief
Perhaps because they’ve su ered themselves, California’s Indians are sensitive to the plight of others. When tragedy strikes, they’re quick to supply much-needed assistance.
When the tsunami hit Southeast Asia in December 2004, Northern California’s Rumsey Band and United Auburn Indian Community combined to contribute $1 million. In Southern California, Viejas, Sycuan, and Barona each gave $50,000. “We as Indian people have lived through disasters of our own and we knew that we just couldn’t sit by—we had to do something,” said Viejas Vice Chairman Bobby Barrett at the time.
After wild res swept the San Bernardino area in 2003, San Manuel donated $1 million to aid those whose homes had been damaged or destroyed. Morongo gave $1 million to the Riverside County chapter of the American Red Cross for short- and long-term relief projects. Sycuan created a $1 million relief fund to help its neighbors rebuild in eastern San Diego County after the res there.
In July 2002, San Manuel sent $1 million to the re victims of another highland tribe, the White Mountain Apache in Arizona. In September 2001, it pledged $500,000 to the Red Cross 9/11 relief fund. Many gaming
tribes contributed liberally to this and other funds. Tribes o er more than just money to quell calamities.
San Manuel made a gift of three re engines and one hazmat vehicle to the city of San Bernardino in 2000. A couple years later, it presented ten thermal imaging cameras to re departments.
In 2004, Morongo hosted daily turkey lunches to thank the re ghters who fought the nearby blazes. Viejas and Sycuan held an “Honoring Our Heroes” luncheon and recognized re ghters with more than 200 awards.
Cultural Preservation
Tribes are battling to protect their beliefs and practices from erosion, so they consider cultural projects vital. ey use gaming revenues to express their ancestral values in various ways.
Page 16 AUGUST 2005