Owners and Operators of Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Circling Raven Golf Club in the Idaho Panhandle Continue to Fulfill – and Exceed – Investment Promises
(WORLEY, Idaho) – It is easy to look at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort & Hotel and its lush, much-heralded Circling Raven Golf Club and only see what is on the surface – well-appointed, customer friendly businesses and amenities which have steadily garnered awards and critical acclaim year over year.
But that is missing the point.
While they have consistently performed at a high level and pleased too many guests to count, they are merely a means to an end.
The end?
Honoring the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s promise to provide a better future for children and educational programs throughout the state by donating substantial supporting funds.
As part of the Tribal/State gaming agreement, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe made a commitment to contribute five percent of net revenues from authorized Class III gaming toward the financial support of education. Since 1994, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has supported educational organizations, schools, and community programs across the region with over $12.4 million in funding, far exceeding the mandated amount.
“Idahoans gave us their faith, their trust,” said Dave LaSarte-Meeks, Chief Executive Officer at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. “In return, we’ve kept the promises we’ve made and, in fact, gone much further. Giving for the benefit of others is a way of life here, an enduring element of tribal life and culture.”
The most recent donations totaled more than $4.5 million and were recently announced.
“We are proud to contribute these resources for the future of our communities, for children, and to enhance education initiatives in our state,” Tribal Council Chairman Chief Allan said. “These donations represent our commitment to all children, and to important programs that benefit and enrich our schools, universities and educational programs.”
Schools, programs and organizations that have benefited in the past two years include:
K-12 SUPPORT
$20,000 Avery School District
$30,000 Coeur d’Alene School District
$400,000 Coeur d’Alene Tribal School
$10,000 Fruitland School District
$100,000 Holy Family Catholic School
$20,000 Kellogg School District
$5,000 Kimberly High School
$20,000 Kootenai School District #274
$30,000 Lakeland School District
$1,000 Magic Valley School District
$10,000 Moscow School District
$20,000 Mullan School District
$320,000 Plummer/Worley School District #44
$20,000 Post Falls School District #273
$10,000 Potlatch School
$30,000 Timberlake Senior High School
$20,000 Troy High School
$20,000 Wallace School District
$20,000 White Pine School District
$1,100,000 SUBTOTAL
HIGHER EDUCATION
$21,000 Plummer/Worley Senior Scholarships
$200,000 Coeur d’Alene Tribal Scholarship Program
$120,000 Coeur d’Alene Tribal Adult Vocational Training
$185,000 University of Idaho
$400,000 Washington State University
$47,000 North Idaho College
$973,000 SUBTOTAL
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT
$250,000 Idaho Meth Project (toward a $500,000 total commitment)
$200,000 Kroc Center (toward a $1 million total commitment)
$1,000,000 Cataldo Sacred Encounters Program
$30,000 Back to School Program
$170,000 RezKast
$5,000 State of Idaho Children’s Book Project
$20,000 Coeur d’AleneTribal Educational Institute
$30,000 Tesh, Inc.
$75,000 Coeur d’Alene Tribal Wellness Center
$130,000 Johnson O’Malley Coordinator
$83,225 Tribal Youth Enhancement Program
$500,000 Coeur d’Alene Early Childhood Learning Center
$10,000 Human Rights Education Institute
$2,503,225 SUBTOTAL
$4,582,225 TOTAL (FY 2007-2008)
For more information about Circling Raven or Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, call 1-800-523-2464 or visit www.circlingraven.com.
About Circling Raven Golf Club
Circling Raven is a member of the 10-course Idaho Golf Trail. Among others, Circling Raven holds the following honors:
* Top 100 Courses You Can Play – One to Watch in 2008 – GOLF Magazine
* Top U.S. Casino Resort Courses – Golfweek Magazine 2007 and 08
* America’s Top Golf Courses – Zagat Survey 2007-08 rankings
* Top-40 Casino Courses (No. 4) – Golf Digest 2007
* No. 9 Signature 36 – Fairways + Greens Magazine 2007
* Top U.S. Casino Golf Courses – Golf For Women Magazine 2006
* No. 1 Tribal Golf Course in America – Native American Casino Magazine 2006
* Resort Merchandiser of the Year – Inland Empire Chapter of the PGA 04, 05, 06, 07
* Idaho Golf Trail – Member since 2004
· Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program – Member since 2004
Owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and convenient to Spokane (WA) airport, the resort and golf club are nestled on a reservation covering 345,000 acres of mountains, lakes, old-growth forest and farmland. The resort spans the western edge of the northern Rocky Mountains. Tribal history also tells us that Circling Raven was a spiritually powerful leader, his name coming from his close relationship to the raven, who helped guide him on his journeys, warn him of danger and show him where to find fish and game.
Circling Raven was created amid a unique blend of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. At 7,189 yards, the par 72 championship layout meanders through 620 acres, only 100 representing cultivated ground. Wildlife is abundant, including elk, deer, moose and an occasional black bear. In fact, the opening was delayed due to damage on two greens by migrating elk.
Golf Course
* Yardages: Gold, 7,189; Blue, 6,578; White, 6,108; Red, 5,389; Green, 4,708
* Total Acreage: 670 (including practice area, practice green and clubhouse)
* Amenities: The clubhouse is 6,500 square feet, including the Twisted Earth Grill and full service bar. Both locker rooms include showers and lockers. The practice facility covers 25 acres; separated into areas for wedges, sand play and all clubs in the bag.
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, Buffalo Communications, 703-891-3320, dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com