Tribal officials donate thousands to local organizations
Members of the Sunset Volunteer Firefighters Association (foreground) and other recipients and guests of the Spokane Tribe of Indians mingle during the first charitable giving event Dec. 19 at the Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights.
From left, Terri Worl, director of the Medical Lake Food Bank, Norita Fugere, food back volunteer, and Joanna Williams, director of Feed Medical Lake. Both food banks portion of $100,000 in donations from the tribe's Charitable Donations Fund presented to a number of West Plains non-profit organizations at an event on Dec. 19.
The Spokane Tribe Casino and Spokane Tribe of Indians council members presented 20 checks totaling $100,000 to various non-profit community and educational organizations at the casino on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
It was the first of many charitable efforts by the Airway Heights casino, according to a press release.
Some beneficiaries expressed surprise at the donations after receiving an invitation from the tribe.
Like many of the recipients at the event, Mable Dunbar, director of Cleone's Closet and Food Pantry in Airway Heights, was initially unaware the organization was being considered as a recipient.
"They just called me and told me they were going to give a financial donation," Dunbar said. "I was just excited to come."
Dunbar said the money would help to keep the food pantry running by covering overhead costs.
The money comes from the tribe's Charitable Donations Fund. Future charitable giving will also be made through the fund to other "deserving organizations," a press release noted.
Recipients included local food banks, school groups, the Sunset Volunteer Firefighters Association, the VFW Horton Strength Post 3386, and several women's and family services organizations.
The casino is owned by the Spokane Tribe of Indians, who are committed to honoring their ancestors and sharing tribal ideas and hospitality with the local community, according to the casino website.
Loree Eads, tribal member and board vice president of the American Indian Community Center that was also slated to receive a donation, said the tribe had donated thousands of dollars to organizations in the Chewelah area over the years.
The tribe also owns and operates a casino in Chewelah.
"The people that are benefiting tonight are Spokane organizations and West Plains organizations," Eads said. "As a tribe we like to focus on helping our neighbors and community who have helped us."
Eads expressed appreciation for being among the first of the West Plains charitable organizations to be chosen as a recipient of the tribal fund.
"That's quite a honor," she said.
The Airway Heights casino officially opened in January 2018.
The Spokane Tribe's traditional ancestral lands covered over 3 million acres. Although the tribe lived primarily along the Spokane River, where they subsisted on wild game, fish and collected roots and berries, campsite locations varied depending on the seasons, according the tribe's website.
The 2,708-member tribe is headquartered in Wellpinit, Wash. on the 159,000 acre Spokane Indian Reservation.
To see a complete list of non-profit recipients of the tribe's Charitable Donations Fund go to http://www.cheneyfreepress.com
Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.
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