By Puyallup Tribal News Staff
The Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust Board and Puyallup Tribal Council have awarded 19 local organizations a combined $204,800.
Representatives of the nonprofit and charitable organizations were greeted and thanked by members of the Puyallup Tribal Council as they arrived for the Sept. 13 celebration at the Emerald Queen Casino Hotel in Tacoma. Tribal Council delivered remarks recognizing recipients and invited them up to take a photo.
“It’s really important that the communities are taken care of by the community,” said Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud. “There is so much giving that needs to be given and you are at the forefront of that.”
The donations are funded from 2023 Emerald Queen Casino revenue as part of an agreement with the state of Washington that includes additional contributions for smoking cessation and problem gambling programs, and for impact costs paid to local governments for such things as fire and police services.
The Puyallup Tribe has donated more than $24 million to hundreds of local organizations through its Charity Trust Board since 2012. The Puyallup Tribal Council has donated millions more out of its own budget to help community organizations that don’t qualify for Charity Trust Board funding, such as Maui United Way, which received $30,000 in 2023 to assist with wildfire relief efforts.
Casino operations are also the single biggest revenue source for the Puyallup Tribe’s government. They pay for comprehensive services to the Tribe’s Membership, including children’s services, housing, educational support, emergency assistance and funeral services. In the past two years, the Tribe has embarked on an ambitious economic diversification program that will not only strengthen its economic base to bring security for future generations but bring more jobs to the region.
The Charity Trust Board has awarded donations to the following organizations:
A Gift for Special Children
Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest
AHAT Homecare
Ali’s Prom Project
Amara
ARK Institute of Learning
Chief Seattle Club
Coast Guard Family Holiday Stockings for Homeless Children
Communities in Schools of Tacoma
Dry Tikes and Wet Wipes
Fife Junior Football
First Baptist Church of Lakewood
FOB Hope
Greentrike
Helping Hand House
Jerry Meeker Middle School PTSA
Northwest Harvest
Rotary Club of Gig Harbor Midday
Rebuilding Hope Sexual Assault Center
Qualifying organizations are encouraged to apply for a donation with preference given to projects that demonstrate benefits or services to Natives as part of their service population. Learn more about the Charity Trust Board and how to apply for a grant at puyalluptribe-nsn.gov.
