Shakopee tribe gives holiday donations to more than 35 tribes and organizations

Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) today announced $177,600 in holiday donations for 38 different tribes and organizations in Minnesota and neighboring states.

The donations will fund many community holiday gatherings and activities, such as Thanksgiving meals, Christmas dinners, food baskets, and gifts for children.

Native American tribes and organizations receiving holiday grants include:

• Ain Dah Yung Center (MN) – $5,000 grant for a Thanksgiving meal and Christmas gifts

• American Indian Community Development Corporation (MN) – $3,100 grant for an elders holiday party and gifts

• American Indian Family Center (MN) – $6,000 grant for a Christmas party and gifts

• Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (WI) – $1,500 grant for a Christmas party

• Boys & Girls Club of Lower Brule (SD) – $5,000 grant for a Christmas party, gifts, and winter activities

• Boys & Girls Club of Grand River Area (SD) – $5,000 grant for a Christmas dinner and gifts

• Boys & Girls Club of the Missouri River Area (SD) - $5,000 grant for a Christmas dinner, party and gifts

• Cheyenne River Youth Project (SD) – $5,000 grant for Christmas presents for children

• Department of Indian Work (MN) – $8,000 grant for holiday food baskets and gifts

• Division of Indian Work (MN) – $6,000 grant for holiday food baskets

• Elders Lodge (MN) – $5,000 grant for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals

• Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Human Services (MN) – $1,000 grant for a holiday party, gifts and prizes

• Indian Youth of America (IA) - $3,500 grant for a holiday party and gifts

• Little Earth Residents Association (MN) – $5,000 grant for holiday food baskets and gifts

• Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Urban Office (MN) – $4,000 grant for Thanksgiving food baskets

• Minneapolis American Indian Center (MN) – $5,000 grant for a Christmas party and gifts

• Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center (MN) – $5,000 grant for holiday gifts

• Native American Community Clinic (MN) – $1,000 grant for holiday gifts

• Native American Development Center (ND) – $2,500 grant for a community meal and gifts for elders

• Native American Veterans Assistance (SD) – $1,000 grant for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals

• Red Lake Nation Embassy (MN) – $1,000 grant for a children's Christmas party

• Red Lake Nation Toy Drive (MN) – $2,000 grant for children's holiday gifts

• Sicangu Child & Family Services (SD) – $10,000 grant for a holiday party and gifts

• St. Joseph's Indian School (SD) – $6,000 grant for holiday food baskets and gifts

• Turtle Mountain Head Start (ND) – $2,000 grant for holiday gifts for children

• The Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation (MN) – $20,000 grant for the annual holiday drive

• Upper Midwest American Indian Center (MN) – $5,000 grant for holiday gifts for children and elders

• Wakhanyeza Wounspe Oti Sacred Children Learning Center (SD) – $3,000 grant for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals

• Women of Nations (MN) – $5,000 grant for children's holiday gifts

• Yankton Sioux Housing Authority (SD) – $5,000 grant for children's Christmas stockings

Local Minnesota organizations receiving holiday grants include:

• Catholic Charities (MN) - $5,000 grant for holiday meal

• Community Action Partnership of Scott, Carver and Dakota Counties (CAP) Agency (MN) – $20,000 grant for holiday gifts, food, and general operating expenses

• Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MN) – $1,000 for holiday event and gifts

• Salvation Army (MN) – $2,000 for holiday food baskets and gifts

• Southwest Metro Educational Cooperative (MN) – $500 grant for Thanksgiving meal

• St. Joseph's Home for Children (MN) – $3,000 grant for children's holiday activities

• Traverse County Social Services (MN) – $3,000 grant for Toys for Tots, food vouchers, and winter clothes

• 360 Communities (MN) – $1,500 for children's holiday gifts

"The SMSC gives millions of dollars to tribes, organizations and causes throughout the year, but the holiday season is a special time for many people," said SMSC Chairman Charles R. Vig. "It's a time for gathering, sharing meals, and giving to the youngest among us. During this time of celebration and family, our tribe is proud that we can help many different communities come together."

The SMSC has donated more than $350 million to organizations and causes in the past 25 years, and is the single-largest philanthropic benefactor for Indian Country nationally.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC's government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.