PUYALLUP RESERVATION, Tacoma, Wash.—The Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust Board has awarded 38 local organizations a combined $1,100,960, including $500,000 to Riverside Fire and Rescue to help purchase a new fire truck.
Representatives of more than 30 nonprofit and charitable organizations were greeted and thanked by members of the Puyallup Tribal Council as they arrived for the Aug. 8 celebration at the Emerald Queen Event Center in Tacoma. Tribal Council delivered remarks recognizing recipients and all attendees gathered for a group photo.
“We are here today to award dollars to qualified non-profits in the state of Washington that are working to make their communities better and that is all of you,” said Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud.
The donations are for the second quarter of 2023. They are funded from 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.
Riverside Fire and Rescue serves the Puyallup Tribal community with Chief Leschi Schools and fish hatcheries in their response area. The staff and Commissioners on hand were thrilled with their award.
“Thank you very, very much. I cannot say how much the Tribe has done for our department. We wouldn’t be the same without them. This is almost our entire year’s budget,” said Riverside Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Kira Thirkield.
The Puyallup Tribe has donated more than $17 million to hundreds of local organizations through its Charity Trust Board over the past 10 years. The Puyallup Tribal Council has donated millions more out of its own budget to help community organizations ranging from the Northwest Trek Foundation to the Steilacoom High School Sports Boosters.
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 Charitable Trust Board has awarded donations to the follow organizations:
American Leadership Forum of Tacoma Pierce County – $10,000
Associated Ministries of Tacoma Pierce County – $10,000
Blue Mountain Community Foundation – $2,000
Camp Korey – $10,000
Celebrate Harvest – $32,000
Center for Women and Democracy – $10,000
CJK Community Homes – $50,000
Coast Guard Family and Friends Holiday Stockings – $12,000
Community Lunch on Capitol Hill – $9,000
Give Something Back – $3,810
Greater Life Church of God in Christ – $20,000
Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County – $30,000
International Youth Fellowship – $5,000
Jerry Meeker Middle School PTSA – $20,000
Key Peninsula Volunteer Firefighters Association – $50,000
Lighthouse Christian School – $10,000
Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children – $10,000
Network Services- $5,000
Northwest Athletic Conference – $5,000
Northwest Children’s Foundation – $5,000
Northwest Harvest – $10,000
Northwest Trek Foundation – $50,000
Olympia Community Solar – $5,000
On the Road with Partner Cafe – $5,000
Our Savior Lutheran Church Abundance Garden – $2,500
Pierce County Fire District 13 Association – $65,000
Riverside Fire and Rescue – $500,000
Seattle Children’s Chorus – $2,500
Servants Way – $4,000
Soulumination – $5,000
South Sound Care Foundation – $25,000
St. Stephen Housing Association – $7,500
St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Theresa’s – $5,000
Steilacoom High School Sports Boosters – $20,000
Street Youth Ministries – $5,000
Tacoma Fire Buff Battalion – $20,650
University Beyond Bars – $10,000
University of Washington Tacoma – $50,000