The Kalispel Tribe of Indians from Washington State recently donated $42,000 to several local non-profit organizations in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties, including 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 money to team members 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,” Kalispel Casino & Government Affairs Vice Chairman of Tribal Council and Executive Director Curt Holmes said in a statement. “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.”
Each year, the Kalispel Tribe donates more than $1 million to local nonprofit organizations in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties as part of a long-standing commitment to support its 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 recognize during the holidays.
It also allows team members to highlight some of the organizations about which they feel most passionate. The charities received a check to continue their work in the community.
The Kalispel Tribe surprised the Cusick post of the American Legion with a donation of $10,000. A release stated that Native Americans have demonstrated a commitment to U.S. military service, showing rates of service 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 American Legion Post 217 spokesperson Glenn Miller.
“The Kalispel Tribe is grounded in heritage and community – values we share with the American Legion,” Holmes said. “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.”
The Kalispel Tribe also 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, children in the program create a personalized wish list, compiled into one Amazon Wish List for easy access. Community members selected and bought gifts directly from the 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. This year, CASA joined forces with Kalispel Casino and other local businesses to reach more people and encourage donations.
The Kalispel Tribe also provided gifts for 86 children from the Cusick School District. The school district identified families in need.
“Caring for others is an important part of the Kalispel culture,” Holmes said. “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.”
For generations, the Kalispel Tribe has shared the spirit of giving with family, neighbors, and the community. For the past nine years, the tribe has extended that holiday generosity to its team members, asking them to nominate a co-worker or themselves for extra Christmas spirit if they have had a tough year and are experiencing hardships. All nominations are confidential and not shared beyond the selection committee.
The program is used exclusively to support team members going through difficult times.
This Christmas season, 16 team members were selected to receive envelopes filled with $1,000 each.