Every fall, the Jamul Indian Village of California (JIV) and Jamul Casino work to raise money for and awareness of several worthy causes. Last year, the Tribe and Casino donated more than $135,000 to local and national non-profits.
This year, Jamul’s annual philanthropy and community-outreach campaigns will include a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser in October and their annual Veterans Day event on November 6 with California State Assemblyman Randy Voepel. This year’s key community outreach effort is a sponsorship of the San Diego International Film Festival.
As part of its efforts to raise both awareness and funds for breast cancer research, throughout the month of October, patrons of Jamul Casino can drop slot tickets into a designated drum at the casino entrance. Jamul will match the dollar value of all slot tickets, up to $10,000. In November, Jamul Casino will present a check to the American Cancer Society.
In addition, Jamul will host its third annual Veterans Day luncheon on Friday November 6 on The Rooftop. California State Assemblyman, Randy Voepel, will be present to help pay tribute to more than 30 JIV and casino team members who have served in the military. JIV will also present a $10,000 donation to Strategic Alliance for Veteran Integration (SAVI). Every year, SAVI helps thousands of transitioning service members navigate their VA benefits, and assists with reintegration to civilian life with ongoing, whole-person support and custom programs.
Erica M. Pinto, Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village of California, said, “Our annual Veterans Day luncheon is one of our honored traditions. Native Americans serve in the military at a higher rate than any other nationality. Recognizing the courage, service and sacrifice these men and women have made on our behalf is both humbling and inspiring. It is truly an honor to partner with SAVI to help serve these very-deserving heroes.”
Finally, Jamul will sponsor this year’s San Diego International Film Festival, October 15-18, with film screenings taking place online and via drive-in. Jamul Casino’s $20,000 sponsorship includes Culinary Cinema Presenting Sponsor, Filmmaker Awards Supporting Sponsor, and American Indian Film Track Co-Sponsor. The sponsorship helps advance the Foundation’s mission to use the transformative experience of film to explore issues of global impact, to create dialog, and ultimately to develop empathy and understanding in an increasingly diverse and complex world.
Additionally, for the past several years, Ms. Pinto has served on the San Diego International Film Festival’s Native American Advisory Board. This group is tasked with viewing the entries by Native American filmmakers, and selecting the top films to be screened during the festival. Ms. Pinto explains, “Showcasing American Indian cinema is important as it helps us preserve our culture and we are proud that the San Diego International Film Festival is hosting Native films.” She continues, “Tribal people are natural storytellers, and telling these stories through a film helps bring those stories to life.”
