United Auburn Indian Community charitable donations top $300,000

Elmets Communications

PLACER COUNTY, CA – The United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC) announced today their 2006 fourth quarter charitable donations totaling $301,600 to strengthen regional programs and services in Placer County and the surrounding areas. The UAIC Community Giving Program – a philanthropic branch of tribal government established by the Tribe in March 2004– has provided over $4.6 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 fourth quarter include Legal Services of Northern California, the Roseville North Recreation, Education and Creativity (REC) Center, Sheridan Elementary School, Rock Creek Elementary School and the Placer County SPCA.

The Tribe donated $45,000 to Legal Services of Northern California, a poverty law nonprofit. The money will be used to directly fund the Mother Lode Pro Per Project, which assists unrepresented, low-income civil litigants in filling out court papers and understanding court procedures for representing themselves. Legal Services of Northern California began in 1956 with the creation of Sacramento Legal Aid Society and today services consumers located throughout 23 northern California counties.

The Community Giving Fund has “adopted” Sheridan Elementary School and Rock Creek Elementary School this year. Sheridan Elementary School received $51,000 from the Tribe, which will be used for new computers, recreational equipment and physical improvements to the school. Rock Creek received $20,000 for after-school projects and programs, including an integrated program with the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn.

The Roseville North Recreation, Education and Creativity (REC) Center first opened its doors for operation in 1999 to serve the neighborhood children of North Roseville. It provides a multitude of programs and services which incorporate the agency’s mission to “sustain a healthy, stable environment…that provides recreational, educational & creative activities as well as referral assistance in obtaining social services at no cost in a positive atmosphere that will allow disadvantaged at-risk youth to reach their full potential.” The Tribe’s gift of $24,000 will go toward general operating support costs.

The Placer County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is dedicated to facilitating the humane treatment of animals in Placer County as well as a safer, healthier community overall. It

supports the human-animal bond through adoption, reunification, education and affordable spay and neuter services. A grant of $25,000 made by the UAIC Community Giving Program will be used to convert the former administrative office space into new cat adoption rooms as well as an on-site spay/neuter clinic. This site will be named the UAIC Spay/Neuter Clinic.

“These latest contributions are just another sign of the Tribe’s appreciation for organizations that strive on a regular basis to make a difference in the Placer region,” notes Jessica Tavares, chairperson of the United Auburn Indian Community. “We are pleased that this money will be used for programs and projects that will continue to have a lasting impact on the community and the lives of its people.”

Other grant recipients include Auburn Area Christmas Basket, CALSTAR, Del Oro High School Parent Club, The Effort, Foresthill High School Boosters Club, Friends of the Colfax Library, Gold Country Toy Run, Gold Country Wildlife Rescue, Golden Sierra Life Skills, Placer Grown, Placer Independent Resource Services, Sierra Sacramento Red Cross, South Placer Heritage Association, and What Would Jesus Do?

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.