Page 24 - April 2016 • Southern California Gaming Guide

ISanta Ynez Band Donates $100,000 to Local Pool Project
n February the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians partnered with Santa Ynez Valley Youth it inclusive to the aging population and promote Recreation to donate $100,000 of a $200,000 donation to a local nonpro t that plans signi cant health and wellness programs in the community. upgradesthelocalhighschool’saquaticsfacilityandprovideaneliteswimmingpoolforthecommunity. “We’re immensely appreciative of the Chumash
e $200,000 donation to the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation will help fund the down payment of the warm-up pool that will be used during this summer’s U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Myrtha Pools, which provides aquatics facilities for the Olympic Games and world championships, constructs facilities for elite competitions then sells them afterward at a reduced cost. e warm-up pool used by this year’s Olympic-hopefuls will be coming to Santa Ynez.
“When we rst learned about the project, our board agreed that the Santa Ynez Valley could bene t from having a community pool,” said
Vincent Armenta, former Tribal Chairman of
the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Once again, we have partnered with Santa Ynez Youth Recreation to make this donation. We’re proud to support this project because we think it’s something the community will enjoy.”
One of the driving forces behind the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation is Gary Hall Jr., a ve-time Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer, member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
and Santa Ynez Valley resident. “We’renotjusttryingtocreatethenextOlympians.
We want to engage the community and give them a place they can exercise in a safe environment. It will bene t the high school, but we want to make
not only for their ability to contribute nancially, but also being engaged community members that are willing to help in any way they can,” Hall said.
e Tribe last partnered with Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation on the renovation of Los Olivos
Elementary School’s tennis courts.
e Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
has donated more than $20 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the Tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving. To nd out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visit Santaynezchumash.org.
OSycuan Casino Donates $50,000 to Challenged Athletes Foundation
n March 20th, basketball legend Bill alongside several athletes connected Walton accepted a $50,000 check with the Challenged Athletes from Sycuan Casino on behalf of the Foundation.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE APRIL 2016
Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). e donation provided by Sycuan is part of the casino’s promise to the organization to donate at least 5% of its GameDay Sports Bar & Grill’s annual sales, which began in 2012.
“CAF, being San Diego based, has been really able to capitalize on the opportunity Sycuan has a orded us to provide life-changing grants for equipment, sports training expense[s] and other things to really allow people with physical challenges to be active, be physically involved in sports,” said Jason Karavidas, Business Development Manager for Challenged
Athletes Foundation. “I want to say thank you to Sycuan, to Bill Walton for being such a wonderful connector and champion to our cause. We’re really honored to be a part of the Sycuan family.”
e casino held an event open to the public on March 20th to commemorate the occasion. At the event, Walton met and greeted casino patrons
OAgua Caliente Tribe Presents $175,000 to Charities
“It’s one of those foundations that we’re very proud of, and we’re very proud of the work that we’ve been able to do in the community. It really reinforces to the ‘together’ piece of our new strategy. We’re going to continue this for many years to come,” said John Dinius, Sycuan Casino’s newly appointed general manager.
Bill Walton and Challenged Athletes Foundation representatives accept $50,000 presented by Sycuan Casino’s General Manager, John Dinius.
In 2015, the casino rolled out a new
branding campaign dedicated to the
close-knit San Diego community. As
a part of the property’s new “Play. Win. Together.” slogan, the casino reemphasized its dedication to the community that made it the success it is today. e
Established in 1997, the Challenged Athletes Foundation recognizes the athletic greatness inherent in all people with physical challenges and supports their athletic endeavors by providing unparalleled sports opportunities that lead to success in sports — and in life.
“together” portion of the mantra is its public promise to continually give back to causes important to locals, including the Challenged Athletes Foundation and over 700 resident charities and causes.
n February 22nd, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians e Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized presented $175,000 to ve charities thanks to the proceeds from the Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs, with 32,000 acres of reservation lands
th
Tribe’s 6 Annual Charity Golf Tournament held in December 2015 that spread across Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and into the
at the Indian Canyons Golf Resort. is year’s recipients include Desert Blind, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, Notah Begay III Foundation, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, and Variety—The Children’s Charity of the Desert.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. e Tribe owns and operates Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa and Spa Resort Casino.
...Tribes in the News continues on page 25
April 2016 Tribes in the News