Officials from Suquamish Tribal government and the Port Madison Enterprises met at Bremerton Foodline, 1600 12th St. in Bremerton, to donate to the community nonprofit.
Bremerton Foodline helps those experiencing food insecurity, a growing problem across the United States. Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler was on hand as Foodline executive director Cori Kauk gave the leaders a tour of the facility.
Tribal leaders also visited the South Kitsap Helpline in Port Orchard and Postpartum Mamas in Bremerton, and made a donation to Turning Pointe, an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Kitsap and Mason counties.
These are just four among dozens of local groups who have received support from the Suquamish Tribe. Much of this giving happens via the Tribe’s charitable nonprofit, the Suquamish Foundation. The giving numbers have not been compiled yet for 2023, however in 2022, the foundation donated $530,876 to charitable organizations, schools, Native American groups, event sponsorships, and civic organizations, mostly in Kitsap County.
The Tribe’s business ventures, which operate under the Port Madison Enterprises (PME) umbrella, donated an additional $222,164 to local groups in 2022.
Suquamish Tribal government donated an additional $210,000 to area first responders in 2022.
Total funding from the Tribe’s foundation, enterprises and government totaled more than $960,000 in 2022.
In 2022, the Port Madison Enterprises supported Visit Kitsap, the Mike Tice Foundation, the Rise Up Academy, the Silverdale Rotary, Kitsap Great Give, the Kitsap County Fair, and Kids in Concert, among others. In all, PME gifts and sponsorships totaled $222,164.
“All of Kitsap County is the ancestral homelands of the Suquamish Tribe, and as one of the largest employers in Kitsap County, our contributions are aimed at enhancing the quality of life in this community for our employees, customers, and future generations who will come after us,” said Rion Ramierez, CEO of Port Madison Enterprises.
PME includes the Clearwater Casino Resort, the White Horse Golf Club, Kiana Lodge, PME Retail (including gas stations), PME Construction, and the Suquamish Evergreen Corp., which includes Agate Dreams and Tokem Cannabis. The PME board is appointed by the Suquamish Tribal Council.
