ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE PROP 202 GRANT FUNDS
By Harrison J. Bahe
On September 5th, 2024, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation hosted the Prop 202 Grant Award Ceremony in the atrium of the We-Ko-Pa Casino and Resort. In an almost cathedral-esque setting illuminated by beautiful natural light, grant winners who submitted applications to receive funds from the Prop 202 Grant gathered. Madam President Sandra Pattea gave a brief overview of the history of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation which covered its key events such as the creation of the reservation by Executive Order of Theodore Roosevelt, the struggle to earn Indian Voting Rights by Harry Austin and Frank Harrison, the Orme Dam standoff, and the Sovereignty Day standoff at the old Fort McDowell Casino. Afterwards, the ceremony began as various spokespeople for their organizations were called up to receive their checks.
The Wellton Police Department received $10,450 and Chief of Police David Rodriguez was on hand to receive the check. “The Wellton is right next to the California and Arizona border. The PD is a very small department with only an 8 man department including myself and one civilian. We serve an area of 26 square miles,” Rodriguez shared, “Our community is only serviced by one ambulance. They responded to 81 cardiac arrests. Half of those resulted with the police department doing CPR before the ambulance arrived. We don’t have the ability to purchase AED (automated external defibrillators) devices that could have helped the life of one person and so, this money will go towards purchasing AED devices.”
The Destination Marketing Organization received $16,353.48 and Caitlin Perez was on hand to receive the check. The Destination Marketing Organization is focused on promoting the Fountain Hills as a destination for locals and visitors alike, with spectacular year-round outdoor recreation and quality events throughout the year from art festivals, to live music, to cultural celebrations.
Bob’s Free Bikes received $7,551.30 and Robyn Heimbuch was on hand to receive the check. Bob’s Free Bikes provides bikes for any child, 18 years old and younger, in the greater Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area who would otherwise not be able to have one. They believe that children should experience the responsibility, excitement and freedom that comes with owning a bike. “Bob’s Free Bikes started in 2016 and the idea of our founder Bob Mandel was to give away one bike a week to a child in need. Since then, we have given away over 900 bikes.” An uproarious applause overtook the crowd. “So, with the money you are granting us, we will be able to buy a helmet for each bike we give out. So, this will go a long way in serving our children going forward.”
The Culture Center of the Fountain Hills Unified School District received $6,700.89 and high school principal Barrie Pinto was on hand to receive the check. This check will be utilized to develop the Culture Center which will be housed within the Fountain Hills High School. “It will be open for students who need support in any level that might be academic, with supplies, or with just a caring person and an adult that can give them some guidance.” Pinto shares. They also intend to use the funds from this grant to hire a Native American Specialist to run the Culture Center.
The River of Time Museum received $6,700.86 and Cherie Koss, the executive director of the museum, was on hand to receive the check. Located in the heart of beautiful Fountain Hills, Arizona, the River of Time Museum & Exploration Center is a distinctive non-profit organization with a focus on water conservation, that’s also an interactive, educational, family-fun destination. “This check will help us better define our entrance. We share our property with the Fountain Hills Library and I can’t tell you how many times people come in and say, ‘I need to return this book.’” Koss went on to describe how the Pattea family going all the way back to Dr. Clinton Pattea helped start the River of Time Museum to Madame President Sandra Pattea being on the board at the time they designed their new entrance. “It’s going to incorporate some of the natural elements of our environment here in the Lower Verde River Valley region and honor some of the people who have helped us to get where we are today.”
Reverent Wombs received $10,051.30 and program director Falice Richardson was on hand to receive the check. “Reverent Wombs is an organization dedicated to supporting pregnant and postpartum women along with their children in overcoming substance abuse disorders,” Richardson shared. ”Working in the mental health community and as a child of parents who both suffered from drug addiction, I have wanted to start a program to break the cycle and empower women and families with compassionate and evidence based interventions.” Funds from these grants will be used to train and certify staff and two key evidence based treatment programs, Trauma Recovery and TREM (Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model).
Child Crisis Arizona received $7,551.30 and Alison Hurtado was on hand to receive the check. Child Crisis Arizona provides emergency shelter, foster care, adoption, counseling, early education, and parenting support services to Arizona’s most vulnerable children, youth and families. Our mission is to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families. “These funds will go directly to our family education program, which provides absolutely free parenting courses for parents, from newborns all the way up to teenagers.” Hurtado explains. “These funds will be used to purchase car seats for our Car Seat Safety Program where we invite any parent from any income level and anywhere in the state to come and take a class on how to use a car seat and how to install it.” If the parents are in need of a car seat, they’ll be able to provide them with one at no cost.
The Town of Guadalupe received $10,051.30 and town manager and clerk Jeff Kulaga was on hand to receive the check. “We are going to repair the restrooms in our maintenance yards building, which fell in disrepair with water damage the last year and a half. So this will, on a very practical level, help our staff.”
The final recipient of the Prop 202 Grant was the Phoenix Center of the Arts who was not present at the ceremony to receive their check. The Phoenix Center for the Arts provides arts and culture opportunities for all through education, programming, and advocacy.
Madam President Sandra Pattea concluded the ceremony by thanking everyone for attending and admitted that the Prop 202 Grant submission process is incredibly competitive. “I hope it continues to help you grow and supports all your missions. Thank you for coming and enjoy the rest of your day and blessings to you all,” President Pattea concluded.
