KESQ.com news services
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians handed out $1.3 million to 84 nonprofits and civic groups from around the Coachella Valley Thursday -- with Palm Springs and Cathedral City police each receiving the largest donations of $74,500, tribal officials said.
"We look forward to this day every year,'' said tribal chairman Richard M. Milanovich. "The tribe has a tradition of giving, and it's a great joy to be able to help those who help others.''
Six schools from Palm Springs Unified also did well during Thursday's giveaway at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage.
Schools that received money included:
- Cielo Vista Elementary, $50,000;
- Palm Springs High School, $43,690;
- James Workman Middle School, $28,000;
- Landau Elementary School $26,310;
- Desert Springs Middle School $13,000; and
- Raymond Cree Middle School $5,000.
We made education a priority this year because we know schools are under a lot of pressure from the budget cuts,'' said tribal spokeswoman Nancy Conrad.
The Palm Springs and Cathedral City fire departments each received $25,000 this year.
Cathedral City Fire Chief Bill Soqui said the money would be used to purchase 40 unfunded wildland protective shelters for the city's firefighters, who travel around the state to help fight wildland fires when needed.
Soqui, whose department received $100,000 from the tribe last year for self-contained breathing tanks, said the shelters were ``like tents'' that firefighters must put on when they can't outrun a fire.
"The (the tribe) are a great partner and fantastic resource,'' Soqui said. "I'm so grateful as a fire chief they've been able to help us out.''
The Cathedral City Library, which suffered a major fire in February, also received a $10,000 grant.
Also receiving funds from Agua Caliente was Iraq Star which is the non-profit charity that helps disfigured Iraq War veterans with surgical needs in order to get back to a normal life.
You can donate with Iraq Star now by logging on to www.IraqStar.org.
