April 09, 2009 –
MAYETTA: Today, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) awarded $75,600 in charitable contributions for its first quarter 2009 donations during a ceremony at the Three Fires Steakhouse at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort.
Steve Ortiz, chairperson of the Tribal Council and the Charitable Contributions Committee was on hand to give the donations to organization recipients.
The largest awards given were for $10,000 each that went to groups from Topeka including the Stormont-Vail Foundation Care-Line program, Doorstep, Inc, and Midland Care Connection, Inc.
Other Topeka-based groups that each received $5,000 awards were the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), FamilyService & GuidanceCenter, and Big Brothers & Sisters. In addition, Meals on Wheels of Shawnee: Jefferson Counties received $4,500, the Sertoma Great Topeka Duck Race received $3,500, Ronald McDonald House Charities received $2,500 and the Alzheimer’s Association received $1,000.
Other organizations near the Potawatomi community that received donations included the Royal Valley Recreation Association for $9,000, Royal Valley After-Prom committee for $500 and the Mayetta Business Association that received $500.
Native American groups who received donations were the Students of Haskell Indian Nations who received $1,500, Stories N/ Motion Film Club for $1,500, North American Indian Tennis Association, $300, National Indian Child Welfare Association, $1,000, Catching the Dream, $1,500, Gathering of Nations Limited, $1,000 and the First Nations Student Association that received an $800 award.
Other organizations that received donations were the Rose Hill Baseball organization for $1,000 and the Mental Health Association of SEK for $500.
The Charitable Contributions Committee is comprised of five tribal members who meet periodically to determine the distribution of funds that are based on groups who are involved in education, health and community services, environmental protection and preservation and religious organizations that have an impact on the spiritual wellness and quality of life for all.