Pechanga Indian Reservation, CA, May 20, 2024 - For three days in May, Journey at Pechanga golf course filled with more than 350 golfers partaking in the annual Pechanga Charity Golf Classic.
With golf clubs now stowed and the tournament wrapped, Pechanga announced their 25th annual tournament raised $200,000 for four Southern California charities.
Image: Representatives from the Pechanga Tribal Council, Pechanga Development Corporation, Riverside University Health System Foundation,
SAFE Family Justice Center, Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton and Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation.
The charities- Riverside University Health System Foundation, SAFE Family Justice Center, Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton, and the Kee Cha-E-Nar Corporation- will equally divide the proceeds, which will support programs for military families, at-risk youth within the community, survivors of domestic violence, as well as address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.
For 25 years, the Pechanga Charity Golf Classic has brought together Tribal and Gaming industry leaders to support local Southern California charities. Through the years, the event has raised more than $2 million to help causes that aid veterans and their families, seniors, at-risk youth within the community, domestic violence survivors, as well as tribal families and more.
“Every year I look forward to seeing our community come together to support these invaluable service organizations,” Said Ken Perez, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “For 25 years now, Pechanga has had the honor of hosting this annual tournament and supporting our neighbors with important resources and services that help our community thrive.”
RIVERSIDE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION
Riverside University Health System Foundation has been supporting the Riverside community since 1989 through community focused efforts and fundraising. Through donors and these fundraising efforts, they are able to fund life-saving programs, education, equipment, and strive to help achieve the vision of RUHS to provide high quality care and compassion to the community. In working to achieve their goal of serving the county’s 2.35 million residents, the Riverside University Health System supports RUHS Behavioral Health and Public Health Agencies, as well as the system’s 14 community-based health clinics.
SAFE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
SAFE Alternatives For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) began as a grassroots effort in 1998 as a response to the growing needs of domestic violence victims within the community. It has grown into a thriving nonprofit committee that provides services for children and families who have experienced or are at risk of abuse and violence in Southwest Riverside County. For over 25 years they have provided mentorship programs for at-risk youth, shelter, basic needs, safety planning, counseling, education, and outreach for victims and their children.
ARMED SERVICES YMCA CAMP PENDLETON
With the goal to increase the quality of family life, the Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton has been servicing the military community for the last 80 years. Through programs that focus on educational, emotional, and financial support, they help strengthen family bonds and reduce the stresses of military life. The Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton focuses on healthier living, youth development, and social responsibilities such as emergency food relief for military families and volunteer programs.
KEE CHA-E-NAR CORPORATION
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) is a national humanitarian crisis, with California ranking fifth in the nation for incidents of MMIP, and the far north of the state accounting for most cases. The Yurok Tribe, based in Klamath, CA, is the largest surviving tribe in the state. The Kee-Cha-E-Nar Corporation provides support to build on response efforts, policy advocacy campaigns, and other communication efforts; all of these programs are needed to create change. Funds will help with the implementation of the MMIP Policy Fund, Contribute to the Yurok MMIP work and Group Healing Sessions.
About the Pechanga Band
The Pechanga Band is a federally recognized Indian tribe that has called the Temecula Valley home since time immemorial. After years of hardship and mistreatment by settlers, the Pechanga Indian Reservation was established by presidential executive order in 1882, affirming the Tribe’s sovereign rights and land-base. The Pechanga Band directly employs more 4,000 people and owns and operates the award-winning Pechanga Resort Casino, one of the largest gaming facilities in the United States.
