United Auburn Indian Community Awards $200,000 In First Quarter Charitable Contributions

PLACER COUNTY, CA – The United Auburn Indian Community announced today their 2006 first quarter charitable donations totaling $200,345 to strengthen regional programs and services in Placer County and the surrounding areas. Of the total amount given, $10,000 is in challenge grants. The Community Giving Program – a philanthropic branch of tribal government established by the Tribe in March 2004– has provided over $2.7 million to nonprofit organizations supporting needs in education, health, arts and humanities, environment, community development and social services.

Beneficiaries of Community Giving Program contributions during the first quarter include The Boys and Girls Club of Auburn, Salvation Army of Auburn, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Roseville and Senior Independent Services.

The Boys and Girls Club of Auburn was established in Auburn in 1994 and has three locations to serve children in the area. The mission of the Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged or at-risk circumstances to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Their services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. The United Auburn Indian Community’s $50,000 gift to the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn will be divided evenly between on-going youth development programs and construction of a new clubhouse facility.

The Salvation Army, established in England in 1865, works to develop a comprehensive ministry to address the physical, social and spiritual needs of people and to meet human needs without discrimination. The Salvation Army came to the Sacramento Valley in 1885 and provides a variety of services including drug and alcohol treatment centers, social services facilities, shelters for the homeless, facilities for seniors, day care facilities, transitional housing projects and a food closet. The Tribe’s gift of $50,000 will be used to continue the SAFE Housing Preventive Care Program that began last year. This program works with families at risk of becoming homeless to assess their situations and make plans to stabilize the financial, social and emotional foundations of each family.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Roseville offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society so unique. The Society’s aid takes the form of 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. It is imperative that St. Vincent de Paul provides help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served. Some 12 million persons are helped annually by Vincentians in the United States. The Tribe’s gift of $30,000 will be used for general operating expenses by the Society.

“Our Tribe firmly believes in helping those less fortunate than ourselves,” said Jessica Tavares, chairperson of the United Auburn Indian Community and the Casino’s Business Board. “It pleases us to support non-profit organizations that do so much to help our community. We have confidence that these donations will make a significant impact.”

Other beneficiaries of the United Auburn Indian Community’s Giving Program first quarter donations include EV Cain Middle School, Loomis Community Preschool, Rock Creek Elementary School in Roseville, Valley View Elementary School, The Forest Foundation, Placer Nature Center, Adventist Community Services, Salvation Army of Auburn and Senior Independent Services (formerly Foothill Volunteer Services).

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.

The Community Giving Program will not be used for loans, deficits or retroactive funding, advertising or promotional sponsorships, religious-based activities, individuals, or political candidates, parties or legislative causes. For more information on the United Auburn Indian Community’s Giving Program, contact Kris Martin at (916) 251-1512.