by Elmets Communications
LINCOLN - The United Auburn Indian Community and Thunder Valley
Casino awarded ten $10,000 grants to charities and organizations in
Placer County today in honor of the Casino's third anniversary.
Representatives of the ten charitable organizations were on hand to
accept their donations from Tribal Chairwoman and Thunder Valley Casino
CEO Jessica Tavares as well as Thunder Valley Casino General Manager
Scott Garawitz.
Then ten charities that received donations are: Lighthouse
Counseling and Family Resource Center, Friends of the Lincoln Library,
Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Auburn,
Magic Circle Theatre, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Roseville, PEACE
for Families, Rocklin Historical Society, Assistance League of Greater
Placer and Legal Services of Northern California.
"The Tribe and the Casino are very impressed with the work that
these organizations do in our community," said Jessica Tavares, Tribal
Chairwoman and CEO of Thunder Valley Casino. "We felt the donations
were a good way to give back to the community that has helped make the
Casino so successful for three years."
"Thunder Valley couldn't be more proud to be in Placer County," said
general manager Scott Garawitz. "We have wanted to do something like
this for some time, and we're happy we are able to celebrate not only
the casino, but the community as well."
The United Auburn Indian Community, founder of the Community Giving
Program, owns and operates the successful Thunder Valley Casino. A
federally recognized Indian tribe, the United Auburn Indian Community
is a sovereign government, making the establishment of its
philanthropic fund even more unique. The Tribe receives no tax
advantage for making a charitable contribution to any group.
Thunder Valley Casino, a 200,000 square foot, $215 million casino,
entertainment and dining complex opened in June 2003. Located 30 miles
east of Sacramento, it is Northern California ’ s first casino offering
all the elements of real Las Vegas-style gaming: service, cuisine and
entertainment in an attractive, quality facility. Thunder Valley Casino
offers approximately 2,700 slot and video machines, 100 table games, a
500-seat buffet, food court, Thunder Café , Austins Steakhouse and
Shanghai Fats. Also on property is the Falls Bar and parking for 3,300
vehicles.
Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center was established to
provide free, direct, targeted services to students and families in the
Lincoln community. Partners of the organization include Placer County
Office of Education, Sutter Health, Kaiser Health, and PEACE for
Families among others.
Friends of the Lincoln Library is an organization works to keep
people interested in books and libraries; focus public attention on
library services, facilities and need; and provide community enrichment
programs.
UAIC has worked with Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation to help
fund the United Auburn Indian Community Infusion Therapy Center, which
provides chemotherapy and dialysis services to those in the Auburn area
who would have to otherwise travel to receive their treatments.
The Boys and Girls Club of Auburn provides the most solid
after-school program for grades K-12 in the Auburn area. The Tribe's
Community Giving Program has worked with the organization in the past,
providing funds to build a new center for its after-school program.
The Magic Circle Theatre operates two historic theatres in Roseville
and has been providing live theatre for the community for 19 years. Its
mission is to serve as a comprehensive, community-based performing arts
center for the region. In addition, the organization provides education
and training for students of all ages and produces professional quality
plays.
St. Vincent DePaul Society of Roseville provides services such as
intervention, consultation or in-kind service and includes a lengthy
list of services including food programs, emergency relief assistance,
disaster relief assistance, shelters for the homeless and abused,
budget counseling and nutrition programs.
PEACE for Families provides a variety of services to victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault in Placer County. Intervention and
support services include a 24-hour crisis line, sexual assault and
domestic violence emergency response and counseling.
Members of the United Auburn Indian Community volunteered hours to
help the Rocklin Historical Society in relocating Old St. Mary's
Church, the oldest structure remaining in Rocklin, to its new location
in Front Street Heritage Park, an area which will contain historically
significant buildings. The Park will encompass a new downtown area and
become a tourist attraction.
The Assistance League of Greater Placer has worked with the Tribe to
help fund the League's School Bill Program, which provided school
supplies such as backpacks and shoes for area children. The program
also gave a dictionary to each 4th grade student in Roseville and
Auburn area schools.
Legal Services of Northern California assists with those unable to
pay court fees and require assistance filing court documents or need
proper representation.
