Legends Casino Gives Back

Legends Casino Hotel funded $490,000 in grants to aid nonprofit organizations through the Yakama Cares program while the Community Impact Fund awarded more than $548,000 to benefit the law enforcement, fire and health care needs of the community. Combined, the two funds affected 220 organizations throughout counties in Central Washington including Yakima, Benton, Kittitas, and Klickitat.

Yakama Cares, an annual event, donates funds to create positive impacts in the communities we serve, and it is funded through the Charitable Contribution fund. Non-profit organizations submit their applications annually between January 1 and March 31.

The committee for the Charitable Contribution fund received 508 applications to evaluate for the 2019 distribution. The applications undergo multiple rounds of cuts before the final selection. The committee bases part of their selection on the areas of need in the community, and as in years past, those areas included programs dedicated to education, youth, elders, health, fire, law enforcement, animals and food. Over 60% of the funded applications will assist nonprofit organizations with education or youth related needs including technology, books, music program requirements, as well as classroom and extracurricular supplies.

The organizations receiving a distribution comprise many communities ranging from Goldendale and Glenwood to Mattawa and Pasco to Cle Elum. Grants awarded in 2019 range from $1,000 to $14,000 per recipient including acquiring a trained cadaver dog for Yakima County, supporting the vets and dog program in Eltopia, and supplies for a culinary workforce program for disabled in Tri-Cities.

The Community Impact Fund seeks to aid larger projects that benefit the community as a whole. This fund is administered by an independent committee including representatives of Toppenish or Wapato, Yakima, the state gaming commission, the Yakama gaming commission and Yakama Tribal Council. For 2019, $482,204 has been designated for Yakima County Sheriff, Yakima County Fire Protection District #5, Pahto Public Passage, Yakama Nation Public Safety, Astria Toppenish Hospital, Yakima County Department of Correction, Yakama Nation Corrections, and City of Toppenish Fire Department.
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Legends Casino Hotel is Your Place to Play. The Casino includes nearly 1,500 slot machines, 18 table games including craps and roulette, a poker room, Keno, a buffet restaurant, and gift shop. It is located just minutes off 1-82 and exit 50, one mile west of Toppenish. For more information: 1-877-7-COME-11 or www.legendscasino.com. Legends Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.