Since 2004, the Chumash Casino Resort has designated a December concert to bring awareness to the Central Coast Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign, which serves families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through partnerships with local agencies. On Dec. 6, before pop and R&B group 98 Degrees were to take the stage and perform at the Chumash Casino Resort Samala Room , the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians announced a donation of $25,000 to the local Toys for Tots campaign.

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The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that included language directing the Department of Interior to take 1,427 acres of Santa Ynez land, known as Camp 4, into federal trust for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The language was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.

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Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee member Mike Lopez has been elected vice chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) executive board. “It’s an honor and privilege to be elected vice chairman of CNIGA,” Lopez said. “As the largest regional gaming organization in the United States, CNIGA is a leading voice and forum on gaming issues, and I am proud to serve the organization.”

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Several local school and civic leaders, as well as representatives of various organizations that contributed to the fundraising effort, gathered at the stadium for a groundbreaking ceremony that was followed by actual construction work. Among those present was Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Business Committee Secretary/Treasurer, Maxine Littlejohn, who was there on behalf of the tribe’s $450,000 contribution towards the project.

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The Solvang Senior Center glowed with the smiles of 75 diners who gathered together in friendship and fun to enjoy a spectacular fall meal provided by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians volunteers, Team Chumash. Public Relations representative, Teresa Sat, introduced Team Chumash volunteers while explaining to diners the mission behind their community involvement: taking care of and giving back to the community.

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UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 114 partnered with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to organize a build-a-bike workshop to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County. The tribe and union shared the costs, which included expenditures for helmets, and the union apprentices assembled various bicycles and tricycles – 44 in total – along with Team Chumash, the tribe’s volunteer program. With the help of vehicles from Toyota of Santa Maria, the bikes were delivered to CASA of Santa Barbara, which will satisfy the wish lists of foster children who are hoping for some new wheels this holiday season.

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Raul Armenta, Vice Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, announces the tribe’s $250,000 donation during a press conference about the progress of the fundraising for the Community Aquatics Complex project at Santa Ynez Union Valley High School.

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The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care has renewed the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic’s national accreditation for another three-year period following a stringent review of its care and services. The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic the only primary care facility in Santa Barbara County to attain AAAHC accreditation, which it first earned in 2013.

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Adding to a growing list of outstanding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awards for environmental stewardship, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Chumash Casino Resort has been recognized for their Zero Waste and Recycling efforts. By forming both local and national partnerships and designing innovative programs along with an already extensive in-house recycling program in 2018, the Chumash Casino Resort was able to divert 2,922,307 pounds of waste, representing over 90% of its overall waste stream, from local landfills, according to the EPA.

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On her final shot of the two-day Chumash Charity Golf Classic, Maxine Littlejohn hit a hole-in-one on a hole sponsored by Rio Vista Chevrolet in Buellton and earned a new car for each member of her foursome back in August. Littlejohn, the Secretary/Treasurer for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee, recorded the ace on a 165-yard shot from the Alisal River Course’s par-3 ninth hole.

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(SB Family Life & Magazine) Each year the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County (CAC) recognizes extraordinary organizations or individuals who have helped improve the lives of children, youth, families, and seniors in their communities. This year the winner is the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for its Community Action Champions honor and their continued commitment to better serve its community. 

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(KEYT/ABC) In April, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundations donated 48 new Google Chromebooks to students at Jonata Middle School in Buellton as part of a grant request made by the school and submitted to the tribe's Technology in Schools Program. The value of the donations is over $13,000. Principal Hans Rheinschild said the donation will help with the school's goal to put a laptop in the hands of every one of their students.

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(Lompoc Record) Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, speaks proudly on the recent recognition from Gov. Jerry Brown who awarded the The Chumash Casino Resort with the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). The tribe is among 13 California organizations that have been acknowledged for reducing its waste stream and lowering recycling costs.

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