Page 20 - Southern California Gaming Guide • May 2018

ASoboba Foundation Gives $100,000 to Local Charities
bout 300 golfers swarmed The Country Club at Soboba Springs on April 3rd and 4th to have fun on the links while helping local nonprofits during the sixth annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Charity Golf Tournament.
The popular event grows, this year expanding to two days of play and providing each of ten organizations, up from seven last year, with a $10,000 grant to continue their work. A diverse group was selected as recipients of this year’s tournament, including those who work with and for children, youth sports, students, adults with disabilities, seniors, veterans and Native
Americans. Assistance League of Hemacinto, Boxing for Christ, Care-A-Van Transit, Community Pantry, EXCEED, Friends of Valley-Wide Foundation, Native Challenge, San Jacinto Unified School District, T.H.E. Center, Inc., and V.I.P. Tots provided volunteers to assist at the event in exchange for the generous donation.
Soboba Tribal Council Vice Chairman Isaiah Vivanco has served as Tournament Director the past four years. He said this year 75 foursomes
competed compared to last year’s 54 teams (and 21 on the first year). The biggest challenge this time was making it a two-day event.
Diane Perez, Superintendent of San Jacinto Unified School District (SJUSD), said “The
highlight for me was greeting and thanking the golfers because their generosity makes the giving in our community possible. We were pleased to be a small part of giving back to Soboba, who gives so much to SJUSD all year long. Our relationship is one of mutual support and caring. Soboba is committed to improving the lives of our students and our community.”
The live auction included autographed jerseys from Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson. Cruises and an autographed guitar from top country stars who performed at a recent Stagecoach Festival were also hot items. Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Chairman, Steven Estrada, donated four hand-woven pieces he made with juncus on a deergrass foundation, which raised a combined total of $9,000.
Soboba Tribal Council Vice Chairman Vivanco said any funds raised beyond the $100,000
San Jacinto Unified School District was one of ten nonprofits that received $10,000 from the Soboba Foundation at its annual Charity Golf Tournament.
Photo Credit: Michael Leone Photography
distributed to the ten local nonprofits will allow the Soboba Foundation to continue to sponsor activities and events throughout the year.
“With the success of this year’s tournament, I can’t imagine it getting any better, but with the new course and resort being built, I’m sure it will be bigger and better next year,” Vivanco said. “I’ve already got some ideas in mind.”
PAGE 20
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
MAY 2018
May 2018 Tribes in the News