Capri Elementary School Receives $5,000 Education Grant From Barona Tribe

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - October 16, 2009) - Today, staff and students of Capri Elementary School joined 74th District Assemblyman Martin Garrick to accept a $5,000 education grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians.

As schools across the state continue to grapple with the reality of budget cuts, the Barona Band of Mission Indians has been sharing resources through its Barona Education Grant Program. Since 2006, Barona has awarded more than $800,000 to over 160 schools statewide.

"Investing in education for the next generation is of the utmost importance to our Tribe," said Edwin "Thorpe" Romero, Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. "We are happy to help provide important resources for deserving schools such as Capri Elementary School, who don't have the budget to enhance their learning tools due to the state's cutbacks."

Capri Elementary School will use the grant money to purchase several new laptop computers and library books.

The Barona Education Grant Program is the first of its kind in California created and administered by a Tribal Government. 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, which operates under a continuous improvement model.

Schools throughout California can apply for educational grants from Barona to purchase much-needed supplies and materials that promote academic improvement. Each grant awarded by the Barona Education Grant Program is $5,000. Applications can be downloaded at http://barona-nsn.gov/education/education.html.

The Barona Band of Mission Indians has lived in Southern California for over 5,000 years and the Barona Indian Reservation since 1932. The Tribe was once a semi-nomadic band that traveled across Southern California in tune with the seasons and what nature provided. It is now a sovereign government operating Barona Resort & Casino, San Diego's premier luxury resort and casino.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Sheilla Alvarez 619-402-0182 Kelly Jacobs Speer 619-933-5013