"Millions of dollars a year in gaming revenue are spent by county Indian tribes on hundreds of charitable organizations and causes that benefit a wide segment of San Diego’s population. Schools, chambers of commerce and groups that serve the poor, the elderly, the handicapped and victims of abuse are a few of the many organizations benefiting from Indian casinos and resorts.

But the tribes also help one another. Earlier this year, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, which operates the Pala Casino Resort and Spa, spent $1 million to purchase 10 new mobile homes for members of the neighboring La Jolla Band whose homes were lost in last year’s Poomacha wildfire.

“The tribes are close physically and culturally,” says Pala spokesman Doug Elmets. “Pala not only purchased the homes but arranged to have them placed on foundations.”

Sixty homes on the La Jolla reservation burned in the fire. Pala funded the purchase of nine three-bedroom, two-bath, double-wide trailers and one four-bedroom, two-bathroom trailer.

“We’re very fortunate to be in a position to give and help our neighbors and fellow tribe re-establish their reservation, their home,” says Pala Tribal Chairman Robert Smith. “We want to help actively ensure that life on the reservation is restored.”

The Barona Band of Mission Indians and other gaming tribes also assisted La Jolla Indians in fire relief efforts."

Get the Story:
Jackpot For The Many (The San Diego Metropolitan August 2008)