Suquamish Tribe lends its support to countywide sources

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, October 18, 2006

SUQUAMISH — Three local groups hit the proverbial jackpot in mid-September when money generated through the Clearwater Casino’s gaming machines paid out in the form of grants through the Suquamish Tribe’s Appendix X Fund.

The tribe gave $10,000 to the Suquamish Elementary School’s summer school program, $5,000 to the Stillwaters Environmental Center and a $1,000 grant to the Kitsap Community Fund, Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman said last week.

Before awarding such monies, the Suquamish Tribe looks specifically at whether or not the organizations being reviewed helps youth, elders, the environment or all three.

“I think this is a positive reflection on the tribe,” said KCF Executive Director Jennifer Green, adding that the organization awards its own grants, and the money will help it continue to do so. “The outreach they are doing is effectively showing people they are a part of the community, and are working hard to make a difference.”

“They have a good network of grantees themselves,” Forsman said. “Kitsap Community Foundation gives to a number of groups as well.”

The money awarded to the summer school program will allow elementary students to attend free of charge, said North Kitsap School District’s Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning Dixie Husser.

“We do combine funds, and with that money we can hire five teachers to work Monday through Thursday with our students,” she said, noting that the program utilizes other grant sources as well. “The focus of this summer school is reading and science. Last year’s theme was ‘Color Matters.’ Students were able to learn about color through stories and science.”

The Appendix X fund is supported by net winnings from gaming machine and lottery terminals at the Clearwater Casino, Forsman said. That money goes into a pot and is awarded through grants to different groups throughout Kitsap. To date, about $850,000 has been circulated back into the North End community, providing support for programs that need the funding.

“We’ve also given to Suquamish Elementary school, the local Red Cross, the YWCA, Fishline,” Forsman said. “We’ve had some repeat grantees. We like to support ongoing efforts in the community.”

Stillwaters Environmental Center was able to maintain its volunteer coordinator with their grant, said Stillwaters Administrative Director Naomi Maasberg.

“Stillwaters runs on volunteers,” she said. “Having this money makes it possible to greatly expand our services. We have a tremendous volunteer staff, and this helps keep that going.”

The grant also strengthens ties within the North Kitsap community, she added.

“We apply for this grant because we like to connect with the tribe, because we need the money, because it’s a reasonably sized grant for us, and it fits with our programs,” Maasberg said. “Also because it’s really great that the tribe is giving this money out. It spreads it back into the community, where it’s needed.”