PUYALLUP RESERVATION, Tacoma, Wash.—The Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust Board and Puyallup Tribal Council have awarded 34 local organizations a combined $641,000.
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 March 5 celebration at the Emerald Queen Event Center in Tacoma. Tribal Council delivered remarks recognizing recipients and all attendees gathered for a group photo.
“One thing I’ve found in doing these is hearing about these programs that are all really quality, really good and they all help our communities,” said Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud. “They’re making their communities better, they’re making our communities better.”
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 $20 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 Charitable Trust Board has awarded donations to the following organizations:
Agriculture & Forestry Education Foundation
Ascend Gymnastics Boosters
Battlefield Addiction
Bellwether Housing
Cascade Christian Schools
Child Care Aware of Washington
Children’s Therapy Center
Communities in Schools of Puyallup
Domestic Abuse Women’s Network
Environmental Science Center
Firefighters Charity Fund/ Tacoma IAFF Local 31
Given to Give
GoodRoots Northwest
Grand Cinema
Heartstrides Therapeutic Horsemanship
Lupus Foundation of America
Lushootseed Research
Mineral Lake Lions Foundation
Mockingbird Society
Mustard Seed Project of Key Peninsula
Palmer Scholars
Puyallup Boys Basketball Booster
Puyallup South Hill Rotary
Safe Crossings Foundation
Safe Place
Sawhorse Revolution
South Sound STEM Fair Alliance
Steilacoom High School Music Boosters
Support the Enlisted
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities
The Bridge Music Project
Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center
Union Gospel Mission of Grays Harbor
Washington State Chaplain Foundation
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.
