Page 23 - January 2006 • Southern California Gaming Guide

San Pasqual Tribe Presents $5,995,000 to
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Rincon Band Donates $20,000
to Harrah’s Helping Hands for
RSan Diego County epresentatives of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians presented a check for $5,995,000 to the County of San Diego on
December 15, 2005 to assist with the county’s $34 million road-widening project on Valley Center Road, as a part of the tribe’s ongoing commitment to contributing to the community and building lasting government-to-government relationships.
“ e tribe is very excited about its relationship with the County of San Diego, and we look forward to continuing our cooperative e orts in the future,” said Allen Lawson, Chairman of the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians.
e funds will be used to widen Valley Center Road from two lanes to four lanes. In addition to the road-widening project, the donation from the tribe will be used to create a signal-controlled intersection at North Lake Wohlford Road and Valley Center Road. Valley Center Road intersections at Woods
Valley, Lilac and Cole Grade will also be improved as a result of the tribe’s contribution.
e San Pasqual Tribe owns Valley View Casino in Valley Center, California. e casino will be expanding by approximately 62,000 square feet. As part of the expansion, Valley View will be adding a new six-story, 1200-space parking garage along with four new dining venues, including an all-new Market
Hurricane Victims
Square Steak and Seafood Bu et, a steakhouse, a 24-hour café, a walk-up European-style co ee bar and increased gaming and entertainment space. Scheduled completion of the expansion is set for the
summer of 2007.
Photo (Left to Right) Project Manager of Engineering Services for the Department of Public Works Brendan McNabb, Department of Public Works Director John Snyder, Valley View Casino Executive Administrative Assistant Carly Harrington, San Pasqual Casino Development Group Inc. (SPCDGI) Director Jenny Monteforte, Valley View Casino CFO/SPCDGI Director Michael Gorczynski, SPCDGI President & CEO Joe Navarro, Valley View Casino General Manager/SPCDGI Director Bruce Howard, County Supervisor Bill Horn, SPCDGI Vice President Al Cope, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman Allen Lawson, Valley View Casino Director of Human Resources/SPCDGI Director Judy Wright, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Councilmember David Toler and County of San Diego Tribal Liaison Chantal Saipe.
O
n December 16, 2005, the Rincon San Luiseño Band of Mission Indians made a contribution of $20,000 to Harrah’s Helping Hands—a version of the holiday “adopt a family” concept. Employees at all Harrah’s owned and operated properties pooled resources to provide a happier holiday for the 9,000 Harrah’s employees a ected by the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast by
ful lling “wish lists.” Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort, which is owned by the tribe, adopted 65 families through this program and raised $6,000 from employees for the Harrah’s Helping Hands program. e funds raised were used to purchase $400 gift cards that were sent to each of the a ected Harrah’s employees.
“Like other Americans, we were horri ed by the devastation that the hurricanes caused this summer,” said Tribal Chairman John Currier. “We feel a kinship with those employees who are now struggling to rebuild their lives.”
To date, Harrah’s Rincon has contributed more than $55,000 to the fund (nationally the fund has collected more than $2 million). In addition Harrah’s Rincon, along with other Harrah’s properties nationwide, extended o ers of employment (including relocation bene ts) to Gulf Coast employees interested in relocating to the North San Diego area. To date, 19 employees in various positions have accepted this o er and are now part of the Harrah’s Rincon team.
January 2006 Page 23
Tribes in the News