California Tribal Government Steps Forward with $1,000,000 for Southern California Fire Relief Efforts

Business Wire, Oct 29, 2007

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Designating Funds to Support Evacuees Displaced by Regional Firestorms and Fellow Tribal Nations

HIGHLAND, Calif. -- The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians announced today, that they are contributing $1 million to assist fellow Californians who have been directly affected by the recent tragic fires.

The contribution will enable various humanitarian organizations to continue providing services as the victims endeavor to recover in the aftermath. Among the groups to receive contributions are the American Red Cross - Inland Empire Chapter and the Community Foundation, an intergovernmental effort involving the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside.

San Manuel has been working directly with the American Red Cross since Monday, October 22, just as the National Orange Show in San Bernardino was designated to be a shelter to house and provide assistance and services to evacuees who have been displaced by the fires in the San Bernardino Mountains. Through Sunday, October 28, San Manuel provided more than 30,000 meals and other incidentals for the evacuees at the Orange Show shelter.

"Our hearts go out to those individuals and families who have been displaced by the fires," said San Manuel vice chairman Vincent Duro. "We applaud the efforts of the American Red Cross and other organizations that are on hand with their volunteers to assist those who are impacted. This is our way of helping our fellow citizens while at the same time recognizing the good work of these wonderful organizations who have stepped up during this crisis."

San Manuel intends that 100 percent of its funds will be used for fire relief efforts and is actively engaging organizations capable of carrying out long term support and social services.

The American Red Cross - Inland Empire Chapter will receive a portion some of which will be designated to support a shelter in the nearby community of Victorville within the tribe's ancestral territory. San Manuel is also contributing the use of some 10,000 square feet of warehouse and office space in San Bernardino to the Red Cross for their use to support the long term relief efforts of the national emergency response team.

Additionally, San Manuel has pledged $100,000 to the Community Foundation serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. San Manuel has joined with the City of Riverside, City of San Bernardino and Riverside County, in the Community Foundation to coordinate fundraising efforts to aid fire stricken citizens. Funds generated will be granted to non-profit organizations that provide services to meet the immediate, critical and unique needs of residents impacted by wildfires in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, and a number of private sector companies have joined this effort.

San Manuel has also designated a portion of the $1 million commitment to assist the Indian reservations in San Diego County that were impacted by the fires. The Tribe continues to evaluate the best and most effective uses of these funds to assist tribal citizens from some of the 11 Indian reservations who have lost their homes and other property to the fires.

ABOUT THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF SERRANO MISSION INDIANS

The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, Calif. The Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture. The San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as sovereign nation with the right of self-government. Despite challenges and hardships, the San Manuel tribal community has continued to progressively maintain and enhance its unique form of governance - focusing all efforts on providing a better quality of life for its citizens. Through economic diversification, both on and off the reservation, the tribe has been forward thinking in its efforts to build infrastructure, maintain civil services and promote social, economic, educational and cultural development. Today, the San Manuel tribal government has created essential governmental units including the departments of fire, public safety, education and environment and continues to pursue opportunities for future generations.