Chumash Step Up Again

Once again the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has stepped up to help out the less fortunate. Helping those in need and giving to the community is nothing new for the tribe. In the last decade, the tribe has donated more than $6 million to charitable groups, schools, hospitals and fire and police departments.

Just about this time last year the tribe donated $5,000 each to Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People, Santa Barbara County Foodbank and Ventura Foodshare to help central coast residents who were struggling to have Thanksgiving turkeys. The donation came from the proceeds of the tribe’s Chumash Classic Golf Tournament. From 2005 to 2007 the Chumash Classic has raised more than $80,000 annually for local charities.

Ironic that at just about this time last year we had very wealthy people, some of which who have seats on the NYSE and live on $20 million estates asking that these organizations turn down the generous donations by the tribe that would help feed people during the holidays. I guess if you live that lifestyle then the needy and hurting don’t really register with you.

This year was a little different than last year though. Let me rephrase that. This year was MUCH different.

This year, where many more jobs and homes have been lost, and people are struggling with food and gas prices, where many more are struggling to properly feed and care for their loved ones, the Chumash have stepped up to help in a big way.

This year the Chumash Classic Golf Tournament raised more than $100,000 which allowed the tribe to donate more than $25,000 each to the Ventura Food Bank and Santa Barbara County Food Bank along with more than $50,000 to Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County which is a non-profit, social service agency dedicated to assisting low-income children, youth, families, and seniors in the development of self-sufficiency skills.

The Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Food bank said the need is greater now than it’s ever been in the past several years.

Santa Barbara County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state with very wealthy people and businesses who call it home, but you rarely hear a lot about these businesses or people doing anything for anyone else though. Especially in these troubled economic times.

The Chumash, since the day they began to pull themselves out of poverty have been ready and willing to help others. I guess that perhaps once you’ve been there it is easier to identify with those in need and understand what they may be going through.

Anyway, the Chumash deserve to be recognized for this extraordinary effort to bring some relief, comfort and a little happiness to those who may be finding themselves in need this holiday season.

It has inspired me. I received in the mail yesterday a request to donate to the Santa Barbara Food Bank and I plan on doing just that.