Barona Tribe Awards a $5,000 Education Grant to Paradise Hills Elementary School to Benefit Special Education Students

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 1, 2012) - The Barona Band of Mission Indians, California's Education Tribe, today awarded Paradise Hills Elementary School with a $5,000 education grant during a school ceremony attended by staff and students. Principal Marisol Marin accepted the award on behalf of the school from Chairman Edwin "Thorpe" Romero of the Barona Band of Mission Indians.

School administrators will use the funds they receive from the Barona Education Grant Program to purchase four 32GB Apple iPads and iCommunicate applications in order to better serve students enrolled in their special education program. These iPads will offer students instant feedback through interactive applications, pause-rewind-replay learning and visually reinforce alphabet, number and color recognition for students that require repetitive, individualized education plans (IEP).

"We are pleased to award this $5,000 grant to Paradise Hills Elementary School as a means of furthering their Special Education Program," said Chairman Romero. "We hope this grant will help broaden the educational tools available to teachers and that these technologies will play a critical role in customizing learning plans according to each student's needs."

The Barona Education Grant Program is the first of its kind in California to be created and administered by an Indian Tribe. Since 2006, Barona has awarded more than $1.6 million to over 336 schools statewide. The goal of the program is to create strong educational opportunities for the children of California, building upon the success of the Barona Indian Charter School, one of the top-ranked California elementary schools in test score achievement.

Schools throughout California can apply once a year for a $5,000 educational grant from Barona to purchase much-needed supplies and materials that promote academic improvement. Applications can be downloaded at http://barona-nsn.gov/education.

About the Barona Band of Mission Indians: California's Education Tribe
The Barona Band of Mission Indians, recognized by the United States government as a sovereign nation, has lived on the Barona Indian Reservation in rural eastern San Diego County since 1932. Prior to that, the Tribe lived on the Capitan Grande Reservation, which was established by the federal government in 1875. Long before living on a reservation, the Tribe traveled across Southern California in tune with the seasons and what nature provided.

Today, the sovereign nation, governed by an elected Tribal Council, is serving its Tribal members, their families, and sharing with the San Diego region. One of the most successful gaming Tribes in the country, Barona also owns and operates the Barona Resort & Casino, San Diego's leading gaming resort, casino and golf course. For more information, please visit http://www.barona-nsn.gov.