Page 27 - July 2009 • Southern California Gaming Guide

July 2009 Tribes in the News
Barona, Sycuan and San Diego County Reps Approve More Than
T$3 Million for Local Projects
he Barona Band of Mission Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and other representatives from the Indian Gaming Local Community Bene t Committee, recently announced local recipients of more than $3 million in grants
from Tribal money paid into the State Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.
“ e Barona Band of Mission Indians is proud to share a substantial portion of this year’s funds with emergency services agencies that protect and serve us in what are often very dangerous conditions,” said Edwin “ orpe” Romero, Tribal Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. “And, with so many government budget cuts in these critical needs areas, we really wanted to allocate the grants where they are needed the
most right now.”
After assessing the needs of local communities and the recommendations of the Indian
Gaming Local Bene t Committee, 12 projects were selected, including over $1.3 million for the Regional Fire and Public Utilities Training Center, over $500,000 for San Diego County Health and Human Services, and over $200,000 for El Cajon public works.
“Sycuan is proud to once again assist in approving these critical grants for public safety and other critical services,” said Sycuan Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. “I would like
San Manuel Contributes $40,000 to Arrowhead United Way
to thank Chairman Romero and Supervisor Jacob, as well as the other members of the committee, for focusing the grants on projects or services that might otherwise su er from state and local budget cuts.”
e members of the Indian Gaming Local Community Bene t Committee include
San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, Sheri Bill Kolender and County Chief Financial O cer Don Steuer. Tribal representatives on the committee include Edwin “ orpe” Romero, Tribal Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians; Sheilla Alvarez of the Barona Band of Mission Indians; and
Adam Day of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
e Special Distribution Fund was created after California voters overwhelmingly
passed Proposition 1A, an amendment to the California constitution which authorized the State to enter into compacts with Indian Tribes for limited forms of gaming, in March of 2000. e compacts require tribes, which were engaged in gaming in 1999, to pay into the Special Distribution Fund. During the compact negotiations, Barona and Sycuan worked together to ensure that a portion of the money the Tribes pay into the fund would be used to directly bene t San Diego County.
an Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino raised $40,000 the state of the economy. is money will give a boost to access to a ordable health care for working families for Arrowhead United Way (AUW) through what we are able to do locally.” with children, hospice care, and counseling for families their annual golf tournament. Tribal member e donation will speci cally target AUW’s programs and victims of violence. e contribution also helps to
Audrey Martinez, golf committee member and treasurer for the Tribe, said that the golf committee selects a di erent nonpro t organization to receive the funds each year.
Doug Rowand, President of AUW, stated, “We are extremely honored to receive these funds, especially with
that focus on family services. ese programs assist struggling families to help build lifelong skills and provide conditions necessary to avoid crisis and assure lasting stability. Some of these programs include dental and vision care for children from low-income families,
provide a ordable legal services for low-income families, adult education programs that include parenting skills, and basic family needs. For more information about
Arrowhead United Way, call (909) 884-9441 or visit www.ArrowheadUnitedWay.com.
July 2009
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Page 27
Tribes in the News