Page 22 - May 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Page 22
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
May 2007
May 2007 Tribes in the News
Barona Band of Mission Indians Awards 15 More Education Grants to
ICalifornia Schools
n the rst week of April the Barona Band of Mission Indians and legislators from all over the state celebrated 15 schools that were recently selected to receive grant money awarded through the Barona Education Grant Program. e innovative program to date has awarded $210,000 to 42 schools statewide. e program is the rst of its kind in California created and administered by an Indian tribe. Schools throughout California can apply
for educational funding to purchase much-needed supplies and materials that promote academic improvement, including books, computers and other educational materials. Each grant awarded by the Barona Education Grant Program is $5,000. Applications for the grant may be submitted by a locally-elected state o cial on behalf of the school or the school may submit the application directly with an endorsement letter by the State Legislator representing the area.
TAgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Gives $1.3 Million to Community
he Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians turned around a day known for its bad luck by hosting on Friday “It’s just a complete surprise,” said Cathedral City Fire the 13th in April, the biggest one-day charitable event ever by the Tribe, giving away more than $1.3 million Chief Bill Soqui, who said the money will be used to to local groups. update the re ghter’s breathing equipment. Currently
e event, held every April since the Tribe’s rst casino opened in 1995, celebrates the Agua Caliente’s relationship with the local community and its ongoing e ort to share its success with local civic and public service agencies, youth groups, veteran’s organizations, schools and more.
e event has been managed in large part by retiring Vice Chairman Barbara Gonzales Lyons, inconjunctionwiththecommittee.Shehasoverseen the Tribe’s donations and annual event since its inception.
‘’We look forward to doing this every year,’’ Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich said. ‘’It’s one of the greatest joys to be able to share with some of the valley’s
hardest-working charitable groups who make such a wonderful place to live.’’
Almost 100 local organizations received more than $1.3 million, including $100,000 to the Cathedral City
Fire Department; $60,000 to
this
there are three di erent systems used in the city, and the donation will help fund standardized
and modernized equipment. “Iwasintearsatleasthalfadozen
times,” Catherine Rips of Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation told Milanovich after the event. Last year her organizationreceived$25,000from the tribe, which helped them get $550,000 from the county for a home for disabled infants and toddlers removed
from their homes by the court system.
ICenter for the Arts, Escondido
n early April Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort became a sponsor of a package of performances to be o ered by the California Center for the Arts, Escondido during its 2007–2008 Performing Arts season. Entitled Harrah’s Rincon Performance Series, Harrah’s Rincon’s $30,000 sponsorship will underwrite eight shows of
their choosing.
Janet Beronio, Senior Vice President and General
Manager of Harrah’s Rincon said, “Harrah’s Rincon is committed to supporting our communities to help make them vibrant places to live and work. We are honored to enter into this partnership with the California Center for the Arts in Escondido and
look forward to supporting their e orts to bring a variety of cultural events to the citizens of Southern California.”
e California Center for the Arts, Escondido opened in 1994 and has a 1,500-seat concert hall, a
400-seat theater, a museum and a conference center.
e Assistance League of Palm
Springs; $50,000 to the Mizell
Senior Center, Braille Institute;
$30,000 each to Hanson House, Desert
Blind & Handicapped, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and Angel View Crippled Children’s Foundation In the last 12 years, the tribe has given away about $19 million.
Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort Sponsors Series at the California
e center has many ne-arts performances, plus musicals and popular and jazz artists.
e Center’s 2007–2008 season opens Sunday. September 9th, 2007. Tickets to the public go on sale June 9th. Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort sponsors other local performances, including a concert series at the San Diego County Fair and the San Diego jazz festival, said Janet Beronio, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Rincon.
IAguaCalienteBandofCahuillaIndiansGivesLandtoRanchoMirage
n a historic resolution, the Agua Caliente Band of than $5 million in tribal impact fees. Also, tribal bed tax Negotiations to reach the agreement had been ongoing Cahuilla Indians agreed to annex some of its land contributions could be $600,000 annually. A 15-story, for more than a year. e city originally sought fair- to the city of Rancho Mirage. e agreement was 344-room hotel is under construction beside the Agua share contributions to mitigate the impact of the high-
signed on March 22nd that would place the Tribe’s $205 million hotel and its casino within the boundaries of the city. Rancho Mirage, in signing the documents, agreed to annex the 40 acres of tribal trust land that is home to the Agua Caliente Casino and the adjacent 15-story hotel now under construction. Rancho Mirage will receive, because it has a casino in its boundaries, more
Caliente Casino and is expected to open in March 2008. “By signing today’s agreement in Rancho Mirage City
Council Chambers, in accordance with public meeting laws, the tribe a rms that a strong government-to-government relationship is vital to our sovereignty, our community, and to our future generations,” tribal chairman Richard Milanovich said just hours before the scheduled gathering.
rise hotel addition of $7.5 million in road improvements, annual public safety contributions of $4.1 million and a
40-acre land donation for a ordable housing.
Mayor Pro Tem Dana Hobart said the agreement signals a new era in the relationship between Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the city of
Rancho Mirage.
Included in the 15 new school grants are Manzanita Elementary School in Newbury Park, Los Paseos Elementary School in San Jose, Don Julian Elementary in La Puente, Valley Christian Elementary School in Dublin, Niemes Elementary School in Artesia, Yucaipa Elementary School in Yucaipa, Will C. Wood Middle School in Sacramento, Florence Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, San Jose Street School in Mission Hills, Pasadena Unified School District in Pasadena, Kipp Academy of Opportunity in Los Angeles, and Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill.
Southern California Tribes in the News