Pala Band donates $1M to La Jolla fire victims

Wednesday, December 19, 2007  

The Pala Band of Mission Indians has donated $1 million to help members of the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians whose homes were destroyed by fire.

The money will be used to buy mobile homes for 20 La Jolla families. The Poomacha Fire burned 9,000 acres on the La Jolla Reservation and destroyed 60 structures.

"We felt it was the right thing to do for a fellow Native American tribe," said Pala Chairman Robert Smith.

"We're grateful to the Pala Band for reaching out and committing to help out tribal members put their lives back together," La Jolla Chairman Tracy Nelson said in response.

The La Jolla Band was one of the hardest hit by wildfires in southern California. Without a casino to provide revenues, tribal members have been struggling since the October blazes.

Get the Story:
Tribes giving La Jolla band recovery lift (The San Diego Union-Tribune 12/19)
Tribe Donates $1 Million To Fire Victims (The North County Times 12/18)

Relevant Links:
After the Fires Fund - http://www.sdfoundation.org/fire2007

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