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
Associated Ministries of Tacoma Pierce County
Blue Mountain Community Foundation
Camp Korey
Celebrate Harvest
Center for Women and Democracy
CJK Community Homes
Coast Guard Family and Friends Holiday Stockings
Community Lunch on Capitol Hill
Give Something Back
Greater Life Church of God in Christ
Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County
International Youth Fellowship
Jerry Meeker Middle School PTSA
Key Peninsula Volunteer Firefighters Association
Lighthouse Christian School
Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children
Network Services
Northwest Athletic Conference
Northwest Children’s Foundation
Northwest Harvest
Northwest Trek Foundation
Olympia Community Solar
On the Road with Partner Cafe
Our Savior Lutheran Church Abundance Garden
Pierce County Fire District 13 Association
Riverside Fire and Rescue
Seattle Children’s Chorus
Servants Way
Soulumination
South Sound Care Foundation
St. Stephen Housing Association
St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Theresa’s
Steilacoom High School Sports Boosters
Street Youth Ministries
Tacoma Fire Buff Battalion
University Beyond Bars
University of Washington Tacoma
