SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Recently, staff and students of Garfield High School accepted a $5,000 education grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians. The check was presented by Barona Tribal Chairman Edwin "Thorpe" Romero and 76th District Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña.
Garfield High School, the first alternative high school in the U.S. located in downtown San Diego, empowers students by combining practical experience and traditional classroom instruction. The school was selected as a recipient based on an application process and endorsement by Assemblywoman Saldaña.
The school will use the grant money to purchase various college text books to support its "Middle College" program specifically designed for at-risk, low performing yet academically gifted students to help meet San Diego City Schools' graduation requirements.
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 nearly $1 million to over 185 schools statewide.
"We're proud to support Garfield High School and their successful program that reaches out to an inspiring group of students," said Chairman Romero. "We thank the teachers and staff of Garfield High School for helping to make an important difference in the lives of each student, and we hope our grant will give them more tools to help them pursue their dreams."
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.
About the Barona Band of Mission Indians
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, visit www.barona-nsn.gov.
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
Sheilla Alvarez
619-402-0182
Kelly Jacobs Speer
619-933-5013
