San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority and Palms Casino Resort Award $1.5 Million in Grants to 45 Local Non-profits in Las Vegas

 Demonstrating a continued commitment to making a meaningful impact in the Las Vegas community through philanthropy, the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) and Palms Casino Resort have announced, for the third consecutive year, the awarding of $1.5 million in grants to support 45 local charities throughout Southern Nevada.

Recently recognized as an Angel Award recipient and Trailblazing Philanthropy honoree, the SMGHA and Palms Casino Resort’s Palms Cares community outreach program revealed the complete list of 2024 recipients including, Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates, Inc., Kenny Guinn Center For Policy Priorities, Nevada Public Radio, Nevada Legal Services, Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN), Edward Kline Memorial Homeless Veterans Fund Inc., Foster Kinship and Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation with the announcement of grants ranging from $5,000-$200,000.

“We are committed to honoring our legacy and sharing our tribal values to become a driving force for positive social change in the Las Vegas community,” said Latisha Prieto, Chairperson of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority. “This commitment is rooted in ‘The Spirit of Yawa,’ which means acting on one’s beliefs. This guiding principle inspires us to support the local community, and the organizations dedicated to building a better future.”

Underscoring an ongoing mission and commitment to providing a “hand up” to underserved populations in the communities that they serve, grants were awarded to nonprofits that reflect the pillars that are most meaningful to the SMGHA including preserving cultural traditions, empowering lives, reinforcing healthy and resilient communities, and education.

The grants awarded will be used in a variety of impactful and meaningful ways including supporting the community of Las Vegas in receiving essential services for families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, providing programs to enhance after-school and summer activities for children, computer skills and financial literacy workshops for adults and social and wellness event for seniors, establishing advocacy scholarships for 25 Clark County families with children affected by autism and many more important programs and services.

With a thoughtful and strategic approach to giving, the SMGHA has awarded several organizations important grants to preserve cultural traditions and ensure a bright, prosperous future for Indigenous people. Nevada Public Radio and Food Bank of Northern Nevada are among the recipients empowering Indian Country.

“We’re so grateful for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ continued support of Nevada Public Radio’s Indigenous Affairs Reporting. Being a 2024 Palms Cares grant recipient will allow us to continue covering the experiences, stories, and news most reflective of Nevada’s 28 federally registered tribes. It’s in our mission to connect our community of listeners, readers, and members to each other by way of our reporting –- and this grant helps us accomplish this work,” said Favian Perez, President and CEO of Nevada Public Radio.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada explained how the grant will impact more than 20,500 individuals across 28 tribal nations in Nevada.

“We appreciate our partnership with San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority,” said Nicole Lamboley, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. “This grant is helping us to strengthen our Tribal Outreach program ensuring that those living in Tribal communities have access to fresh nutritious foods.”

Among the grant recipients who provide services that empower lives, Nevada Legal Services was awarded $60,566 to provide quality legal services to tribal adults and elders facing litigation challenges.

“This grant from the SMGHA will allow Nevada Legal Services’ Indian Law Project to serve 50 Native American clients throughout the state of Nevada whose incomes are above 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines by providing estate planning services,” said Alexander Cherup, Interim Executive Director of Nevada Legal Services. “Through this grant, Nevada Legal Services will include the creation of Indian wills, power of attorneys, advanced health care directives, living wills, and other estate planning services that are needed for tribal populations in Nevada.”

Nineteen organizations that promote wellness and resilience within communities were awarded grants including Kline Veterans Fund which offers programs and services directed to promote resiliency and support the health and well-being of our veterans and active-duty members, along with military families.

“This grant from SMGHA increases the impact of our Homes for the Brave program, allowing us to significantly expand support for dozens more high-risk veterans and their families this year. From housing assistance to utility support, this funding means we can say ‘yes’ more often when a veteran reaches out for help. It’s not just about reducing homelessness; it’s about restoring dignity and giving our veterans the fresh start they need and deserve after serving our country. We’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity to expand our reach and make a real dent in veteran homelessness here in Southern Nevada,” said Stephanie Helms, Executive Director.

Nearly a dozen organizations received funds to continue their impactful work inspiring the future through education. The Southern Nevada Joint Management Culinary & Training Fund (Culinary Academy of Las Vegas-CALV) received the largest grant of more than $200,000 to support the Workforce Development “Flavor of Hope Teaching Kitchen” program. The funding will support renovating a kitchen classroom with modern industry equipment and support three full-time employees, a professional cook, and apprenticeship instructors.

 “Modern equipment translates into better-qualified, trained culinarians, and this grant will allow us to expand our cooking space and improve our training methods,” said Shanna Hackel, Dean of Education and Learning Support Services at CALV.  “We are thrilled to provide an upgraded learning experience that equips our students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the competitive hospitality industry. This grant is a significant step towards providing the best possible education for our students.”

The 2024 grants extend the philanthropic values of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI), which began in Las Vegas before the purchase of Palms. Since January 2020, the Tribe has awarded $12 million to educational institutions and charities in Las Vegas, including $9 million to UNLV for the Boyd School of Law and the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality to fund education programs in Tribal law and Tribal gaming operations.      

Complete list of 2024 Grant Recipients:

• Friends of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument
• Nevada Museum of Art
• Nevada Public Radio
• Family Promise of Las Vegas
• Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN)
• Goodwill Industries Of Southern Nevada Inc
• Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
• Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
• Just One Project
• Nevada GrantLab
• Nevada H.A.N.D  
• Nevada Legal Services
• Noah’s Animal House Foundation
• Opportunity Village ARC 
• Project Marilyn
• Kenny Guinn Center For Policy 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Southern Nevada
• Communities In Schools of Nevada
• Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) Of Southern Nevada
• Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
• Green Our Planet
• Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates, Inc.
• Junior Achievement Of Southern Nevada
• Las Vegas Natural History Museum
• Nevada Ballet Theatre
• Access To Healthcare Network
• Boys Town Nevada, Inc.
• Candlelighters For Childhood Cancer of Southern Nevada, Inc.
• CARE Chest Of Sierra Nevada
• Children’s Advocacy Alliance
• Edward Kline Memorial Homeless Veterans Fund Inc.
• Family and Child Treatment of Southern Nevada, Inc. (FACT)  
• Foster Kinship
• Friendship Circle of Las Vegas
• Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada
• Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation
• Olive Crest
• Raise The Future
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas, Inc
• S A F E House Inc 
• Signs of Hope
• Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of Southern Nevada, Inc.
• UNSHAKEABLE

About San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority

The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority is a governmental instrumentality of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe, created for the purpose of independently carrying out the investment in, and ownership and management of, gaming and hospitality businesses outside of the San Manuel Reservation. 

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