Suquamish Tribe Donates $78,000 to Six Nonprofits in Kitsap, Mason Counties
Donations will Support Access to Food and Human Services Across Region
Suquamish, WA — The Suquamish Tribe awarded $13,000 checks to six nonprofits to support initiatives providing food access and human services to vulnerable communities in Kitsap County and Mason County. Nonprofit leaders were presented the checks at the first Suquamish Tribal Council meeting of the year where Chairman Leonard Forsman expressed his appreciation for the organizations’ dedication to the entire region.
The organizations who received donations included The Salvation Army (Bremerton), ShareNet Food Bank (Kingston), Fishline (Poulsbo), Bremerton Foodline (Bremerton), South Kitsap Helpline (Port Orchard), and North Mason Food Bank (Belfair).
“We are honored to support organizations that tirelessly serve the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Chairman Forsman. “As Kitsap County lies within our ancestral lands, we are steadfast in our commitment to collaborating with partners to foster a healthier and more vibrant future for everyone who now calls this region home.”
Also in attendance at the event were Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson, Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler, and Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu, with whom the Suquamish Tribe and its economic arm, Port Madison Enterprises, work with on a regular basis to address societal needs across the tribe’s ancestral homelands of Kitsap County.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the Suquamish Tribe’s investment for those in need of food in our community,” said Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu. “Meeting this basic need is vital because no one should go hungry.”
The Suquamish Tribe’s donations are funded through revenue generated by its economic arm, Port Madison Enterprises, which manages the donations through its PME Fund.
“We are dedicated to enhancing the lives of Suquamish citizens and our neighbors by supporting worthy programs in the region,” said Greg George, Board President of Port Madison Enterprises. “We want to show our appreciation to these six organizations for their dedication to our community by helping them begin the new year with the resources they need to continue their vital work.”
Port Madison Enterprises’s donation program has allowed the Suquamish Tribe to contribute to various social service organizations, including a $10,000 donation in December to the Backpacks for Kids Food Program in Port Orchard and a $50,000 donation in May to the Bremerton Salvation Army to support housing for children and adults.
“The Salvation Army is incredibly humbled and honored to receive this generous financial gift from the Suquamish Tribal Council,’ said Captain Dana Walters, The Salvation Army Bremerton Corps. “The funds will help The Salvation Army provide assistance for individuals and families struggling to make ends meet, emergency shelter and food to our neighbors, and create a space where hope can be found. On behalf of all of us at The Salvation Army, thank you!”
