By Hailey Palmer, Puyallup Tribal News
The Giving Hope Gala made its way to the Emerald Queen Casino Event Center in Tacoma for the third consecutive year, bringing in a little more than approximately $800,000 to benefit the Salish Cancer Center’s Patient Financial Assistance Fund and endeavors to enhance patient care.
The event is held yearly to raise money for patients of the Salish Cancer Center, the first Tribe-owned facility of its kind in the United States when it opened in 2015, serving both Native and non-Native patients alike.
It has provided the community with access to prompt, state-of-the-art, up-to-date cancer treatment which includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and also naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and traditional Native healer services.
More than 500 people attended the gala to help raise the money which will help ease the financial burden associated with cancer treatment for patients and families of the Salish Cancer Center.
Headed by Puyallup Tribal Councilwoman Monica Miller, the fundraiser’s highlights included auctions, music, Puyallup Tribal culture, fine dining and inspiring stories.
“I want to thank every one of you for being here and being at this important event, this means a lot to us,” Miller said. “These people that are fighting cancer have a hard time, and we are so happy all of you are here to participate in our gala. My hands go up to all of you.”
The Puyallup Tribe established Salish Cancer Center in April 2015 with the vision to provide integrative cancer care to all cancer patients in the community. The assistance fund exists to relieve some of the financial burden of patients who find themselves in distress due to the costs of treatment.
“It’s hard enough for our patients fighting cancer, and we don’t want our patients experiencing any financial burdens,” Miller said. “We are all about making sure that gets taken care of. That’s where all these proceeds are going: our patients for all their needs.”
Sculptures made of sugar, chocolate and ice, along with impressive table centerpieces helped transform the event center for the black-tie affair.
Councilwoman Miller thanked anybody who had a hand in making the event happen starting with her fellow Tribal Council Members: Chairman Bill Sterud, Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller and Council Members Annette Bryan, James Rideout, Anna Bean and Fred Dillon.
“Mary Byrne and Sally Glover have been a big help showing us the ropes of how to do this event and have helped us getting our sponsorships,” Miller said. “Their time with this gala is just phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal how these ladies can volunteer their time and effort into this on helping the Puyallup Tribal Salish Cancer Center for our patients.”
She also wanted to thank auctioneer Jeff Randle, planner Jeff McVicker, the Daffodilians for selling Puyallup Chocolates, the Culture Department’s drummers and dancers, Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud, Dan and Hope Sandstrom, Anne Webster, Michael Thompson and the Tribe’s Communications Department, Judy LeGarde, Regina Logan and Linda Dillon for helping with decorating and shopping, David Peterson, Michael Peterson and Kalisha Privott in the Tribe’s Accounting Department, Emerald Queen Casino CEO Yale Rowe, EQC COO Peter Chu and all EQC staff including Jimmy Chan, the event bartenders, the kitchen staff and security, David and Michelle Bonds, along with all elected officials and politicians who took time to attend the event.
The Culture Department shared traditional songs and dances for the room before McCloud delivered an opening blessing before dinner was served.
“I want to welcome you to the home of the Puyallup people,” McCloud said. “Tonight, we honor some of our ancestors. … We have family members who have dealt with cancer who have passed on, and we have many more, today, who are fighting for their health, their well-being.”
Following McCloud’s blessing, dinner was served with the live auction following shortly after.
Highlights of the live auction were Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Kraken suites, art, World Cup tickets and a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Emerald Queen Casino.
Salish Cancer Center Medical Director Stanlee Lu shared remarks, touching on the high costs of cancer care and how some patients choose to not seek treatment because of it.
He also shared how cancer deaths around the country have been declining because of improved treatments.
“The Giving Hope Gala was born out of a dire need to help our patients who could not afford cancer care,” Lu said. “We have a very broken health care system, and the cost of health care only continues to skyrocket, in particular cancer care. … Cancer patients are two and a half times more likely to declare bankruptcy. Those of our patients that are not able to afford treatments are afraid to speak to their doctors about the cost. Since we started the Giving Hope Gala, the Salish Cancer Center has eliminated cost as a barrier.”
Following Dr. Lu’s remarks, a video was shown featuring patients talking about the care they received at Salish Cancer Center and how that care was made possible by the Patient Financial Assistance Fund.
About halfway through the live auction, the bidding on fun experiences and sporting events stopped and the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the gala began. Auctioneer Randle started with a dollar amount, and whoever was willing to donate that amount directly to the cause raised their bid card.
Live music closed out the event as attendees took the dance floor in celebration of supporting the Salish Cancer Center’s Patient Financial Assistance Fund.
Save the date for next year’s gala:
Dec. 12, 2026.
