By Staff
NEW BUFFALO – The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Four Winds Casino Resort Tuesday announced the launch of the Pokagon Fund, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of the residents in the New Buffalo region through the financial support of local governments, non profits, charities and other organizations.
The Pokagon Fund is supported by 2 percent of electronic gaming revenue from the Four Winds Casino Resort.
Charitable contributions from the Pokagon Fund may include, without limitation, grants, loans and other types of innovative funding.
The Pokagon Fund is governed by a seven-member board of directors serving staggered three-year terms.
The board is made up of representatives from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Township of New Buffalo and the City of New Buffalo, and three at-large members.
The Pokagon Fund Board of Directors will collectively make decisions on how funds are allocated.
The executive director of the Pokagon Fund is Mary Dunbar, who will oversee day-to-day management of the fund.
"The Pokagon Fund was established to go above and beyond what was agreed upon with the state of Michigan," said John Miller, president of the Pokagon Fund Board of Directors and chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
"Donations from the Pokagon Fund will support programs and projects in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, education, recreation and the environment.
"Examples of potential programs that are eligible to receive funding include student scholarships, compulsive treatment programs including but not limited to gambling addiction, land preservation and acquisition and local economic development projects."
"The Four Winds Casino Resort is proud to be part of the New Buffalo community," said Matt Harkness, general manager, Four Winds Casino Resort.
"We are excited to see how the Pokagon Fund will enhance the lives of those in the New Buffalo region."
For more information, grant guidelines, submission deadlines and application forms, please visit the Pokagon Fund Web site, www.pokagonfund.org.
The Pokagon Fund will also be hosting grant-writing seminars to assist applicants with the grant writing process. Call (269)469-9322 or e-mail info@pokagonfund.org for details.