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NEW BUFFALO —  The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s Four Winds Casino announced Tuesday that Four Winds team members raised $15,000 for the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition.  The mission of BCSPC is to connect the people of Berrien County to the information and resources they need for emotional wellness, thereby preventing suicide.

Four Winds team members participated in a Celebrity Dunk Tank event on Friday, September 29 where they had a chance to dunk Four Winds Directors, Vice Presidents, and Senior Vice Presidents.  Through a payroll deduction, team members were able to purchase three or more balls to throw from 10 feet, 20 feet, and 30 feet.  There was also an option for a one-time-dunk!  The $15,000 raised was comprised of proceeds from the event, along with an additional contribution from Four Winds Casinos.    \

Commenting on the donation, Brittany Frenchko, Treasurer for the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition said, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Four Winds Casinos for their donation of $15,000 to the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition.  To witness an organization come together to support the BCSPC was truly inspiring.”

Clayton Mason, Interim Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Four Winds Casinos added, “Four Winds Casinos is very proud of the giving spirit of our team members.  We have been involved in supporting so many important causes and organizations over the years, and we sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition to provide critical resources to help prevent suicide.”

Citing figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, SAVE.org noted in 2021, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., taking the lives of more than 48,000 Americans.  Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24.  The highest suicide rates (per 100,000) in the U.S. are white males (26.4), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native males (25), and black males (14.1).  There are approximately 1,204,575 suicide attempts annually in the U.S. or one attempt every 26.2 seconds.

For more information on the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition, please visit www.berriencares.org.