Page 32 - June 2007 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Page 32
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
June 2007
June 2007 Tribes in the News
SIanta Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Gives $1 Million to Santa Ynez Hospital
n May the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated $1 million to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital “ ose who live in the valley depend on the 24-hour to help pay for expansion and upgrades. e gift by the Chumash Tribe is part of a $10 million fund-raising services of the hospital and it’s a privilege to be part drive to seismically retro t and expand the acute-care hospital in Solvang near Santa Barbara. Some $4.8 of helping it improve and expand to serve all local
residents and visitors,” Chumash Tribal Chairman Vincent Armenta said in a statement. e Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians owns and operates Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, near Santa
Barbara.
over ve years. e money, she said, would be used to expand American Indian exhibits, classes and programs at the center. “It will enhance the understanding and education
of Native Americans,” Ms. Salgado said.
Bill Marshall, executive director of the center expressed his gratitude for the Soboba Tribe’s generosity to Robert Salgado, Soboba Tribal Chairman. e Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians owns and operates Soboba
Casino in San Jacinto. TMorongo Casino Annual Golf Tournament Supports Regional Charities
he Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa 11th Annual Golf Tournament will be the largest in its decade-long history and winners and recognize tournament sponsorships and organizers are expanding the event to support four regional charitable organizations. is year’s tournament donations.
will bene t the Ronald McDonald House of Loma Linda, the National Military Family Association, the “We want our participants to enjoy a full weekend
million has been raised so far.“ is generous gift will help us continue to provide health care to all people in the greater Santa Ynez community,” hospital vice president Wende Cappetta said in a statement.
Cottage Health System, which owns and operates the hospital, will provide the remaining $5 million for the project. e project also includes an emergency
SIoboba Tribe Pledges $500,000 for Museum
n early May the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians pledged $500,000 to kick o a multimillion-dollar fund- raisingcampaignfortheWesternCenterforArchaeologyandPaleontologyinHemet. ee ort,dubbed“ e Campaign for the Western Center: Explore the Past, Inspire the Future,” hopes to raise about $11 million
over the next ve years, to add to about $31 million already raised for the center. e campaign has a threefold goal including to expand and maintain exhibits, bringing in new and visiting exhibits; to
department expansion, a new ambulance bay, radiology and laboratory consolidation, a new entryway, new surgical units and landscaping.
o er new programs and services and enhance existing ones; the center to pay for areas of greatest need.
e Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology is a 33,000-square-foot building south of downtown Hemet that showcases more than $4 million worth of Ice Age mammal and archaeological exhibits highlighting early settlers in the Inland region.
e money will be used to maintain and enhance exhibits, expand programs and services, and to create an endowment for the center, museum o cials said.
and to create an endowment fund for
reason to be proud of the center and hopes it steps up to assure its future. More than 20,000 people have visited the center since it opened mid-October.
“We have here a world-class facility,”hesaid,notingitsextensive exhibits and innovative programs.
Murrieta resident Dan Stephenson, cochairman of the fund-raising campaign, said the community has
Soboba tribal councilwoman Rose Salgado said the tribe’s pledge is to be distributed
Trinity Children’s Foundation at Whitewater Junior/Senior High, and the Esperanza Fire ghters Assistance Fund.
of activities in addition to gol ng, and we’re happy to donate the capabilities of Morongo’s award-winning facilities and resources like food and entertainment to the cause,” added Basara.
Also new this year is the addition of proceeds from players’ cards into the charitable fund. Each tournament participant will receive a players card for the weekend, and their play at Morongo Casino will be tracked and donated to the four recipient organizations.
“We are so glad to have this additional avenue for the charities to bene t from the overall tournament weekend event,” explained Basara.
Participation and sponsorship for the tournament is available at several levels. e Titanium Sponsorship costs $5,000 and includes corporate signage on the course, and a special tournament competition within the tournament. e Tent Sponsorship costs $2,000 and allows the sponsor to place a tent with signage and distribute goodies at a course tee. e Tee Sponsorship costs $1,000 and includes signage on the course. An individual sponsorship is available for $350.
All sponsorships include the golf tee package and the awards dinner for the players. For information about sponsorship opportunities, call Heather Tamulonis, tournament coordinator, at (951)755-5340 ext.23608.
“ is tournament is a special way for Morongo to work in partnership with our regional businesses to bene t local charities,” said Robert Martin, Morongo Tribal Chairman. “It’s an example of the tribe’s dedication to our neighbors, businesses, and community non-pro ts.”
Taking place on June 15th at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club in Beaumont, California, the event will bring together nearly 300 avid golfers and charity supporters for a day in the sun. Last year’s event raised $70,000.
“ is annual tournament has been an outstanding community event for over a decade,” said Joe Basara, tournament chairman. “ rough this tournament we are pleased to give people a fun and creative way to support their local communities.”
In the past, the tournament has bene ted two organizations each year including the American Diabetes Association, the National Indian Child
Welfare Association, and CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates. Each year, the recipient organizations have both received between $20,000 and $40,000. at success has led to this year’s ambitious fund-raising goals.
Heather Tamulonis, tournament coordinator,
stated,“We’re doubling the number of recipient groups this year. It’s a great opportunity for the casino to give back and say thank you to the community.”
e Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda o ers a safe haven for families of children undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. e National Military Family Association is devoted to improving the quality of military family life. e Trinity Children’s Foundation at Whitewater Junior/Senior High prepares boys, ages 12–18, to be productive citizens in the workforce of the future. e Esperanza Fire ghter Fund aids the families of the ve re ghters who lost their lives in the 2006 Esperanza Fire near Palm Springs.
e PGA of Southern California Golf Club features 36 holes set among woodlands, streams and mountains. e course’s natural beauty is combined with world-class
architecture to create a rst-class gol ng experience. e club has hosted both professional tours and beginner instruction programs.
e golf tournament will also feature a banquet and evening of entertainment, held at the Morongo Casino Resort Spa. e banquet will announce tournament
Southern California Tribes in the News