USK, WA – The Kalispel Tribe of Indians distributed $42,000 in donations this holiday season to multiple nonprofit organizations serving Spokane and Pend Oreille counties. Those charities include Planned Parenthood, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, the Alzheimer’s Association, Maddie’s Place, and the American Legion in Cusick. The tribe also donated gifts to children in need and funds to team members who are experiencing difficult circumstances, with additional gifts totaling more than $16,000.
“The holiday season has always been a special time of year for the Kalispel Tribe,” said Curt Holmes, Vice Chairman of Tribal Council and Executive Director of Kalispel Casino & Government Affairs. “Many of us grew up in poverty, and we know what it’s like to struggle. This time of year, we want to thank our team members and community partners and ensure every child feels loved and has a magical Christmas. If we can all share love and generosity with people around us, whether that’s through financial donations or simply extending a hand to someone in need, our community will continue to thrive.”
Team Member Charitable Vote
Each year, the Kalispel Tribe donates more than $1 million to local non-profit organizations in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties as part of its long-standing commitment to supporting their communities. For the past five years, the tribe has encouraged its 2,300 team members to vote for a local charity they would like the tribe to give an extra surprise donation to for the holidays. It also allows team members to highlight some of the organizations they feel most passionate about. This year, after all the votes were counted, there was a tie for third place. Thanks to the tribe’s team members, the following charities received a check to continue their great work in our community. The donations totaled $32,000.
- Planned Parenthood – $11,000
- Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery – $9,000
- Alzheimer’s Association – $6,000
- Maddie’s Place – $6,000
Cusick American Legion
The Kalispel Tribe also surprised the Cusick post of the American Legion with a donation of $10,000. Native Americans have demonstrated a commitment to U.S. military service, showing rates of serving five times higher than the national average. “The Legion is very happy to receive the support of the Kalispel Tribe for a building remodel and continuing operations in support of all the veterans in Pend Oreille County,” said Glenn Miller, American Legion Post 217 spokesperson.
“The Kalispel Tribe is grounded in heritage and community – values we share with the American Legion,” said Vice Chairman Holmes. “We appreciate that the Cusick chapter of the American Legion has been such an asset to our community, showing its continual support for our military veterans and their families. We are honored to support the American Legion in their work with our veterans.”
6th Annual CASA Project Christmas & Cusick School District Christmas
The Kalispel Tribe teamed up with the Pend Oreille Valley Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program to help provide Christmas gifts for kids in the child welfare system during their 6th Annual CASA Christmas Project. Pend Oreille Valley CASA, a Kalispel tribal program, provides advocacy and other services for youth involved in child welfare cases in Pend Oreille County Superior Court and Kalispel Tribal Court.
Each holiday season, every child in the program creates a personalized wish list, which is compiled into one Amazon Wish List for easy access. Community members participated by selecting and purchasing gifts directly from this wish list or by providing monetary donations to the program. Once the gifts were received, CASA staff and volunteers wrapped the gifts and ensured they were delivered to each child’s home, so every child in the program will be able to experience the joy of finding presents under the tree on Christmas morning. This year, CASA joined forces with Kalispel Casino and other local businesses in an effort to reach more people and encourage donations.
Further committing to the promise of bringing joy to the youth of the community during this holiday season, the Kalispel Tribe provided gifts for 86 children from the Cusick School District. The school district identified families in need, and the tribe stepped in to help. “Caring for others is an important part of the Kalispel culture,” said Holmes. “Making the holidays brighter for local kids in the child welfare system is absolutely the right thing to do. Regardless of circumstance, every child should be able to experience the joys of the holiday season.”
Spirit of Giving – Team Member Donations
For the past nine years, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians has operated a confidential holiday assistance program for team members experiencing personal or financial hardship. Employees may nominate themselves or a co-worker for consideration, with nominations reviewed solely by a selection committee. The program is intended to support team members facing challenges such as health issues, transportation problems, or other extenuating circumstances. This Christmas season, 16 team members were selected to receive $1,000 each through the program.