Michigan: Pokagon Band made over USD 88 M in additional contributions in 2014

"The Pokagon Band is proud to have called Michigan and Indiana home for hundreds of years and we are fortunate to be in a position to give back in such meaningful ways. This includes direct contributions, payments to local businesses and vendors, and support of other charitable organizations," said John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. "We are also pleased to be one of the largest employers in Michiana with more than 2,500 people."

In 2014, the Pokagon Band spent more than US$ 74.3 million with 2,202 vendors in Michiana, of which US$ 66.6 million was spent with 1,679 vendors in Michigan and US$ 7.7 million was spent with 523 vendors in Indiana. Additionally, the Pokagon Band provided US$ 1.8 million to the Pokagon Fund, which is supported by electronic gaming revenue from the Pokagon Band's Four Winds New Buffalo. Through revenue generated from its casino locations, the Pokagon Band also made contributions of US$ 5.4 million to the New Buffalo Local Revenue Sharing Board, US$ 990,956 to the Hartford Local Revenue Sharing Board, and US$ 667,356 to the Dowagiac Area Local Revenue Sharing Board.

The Pokagon Band has made donations of US$ 187,000 to Memorial Children's Hospital over the past three years through its sponsorship of the Four Winds Invitational. This includes a donation of US$ 77,500 to Memorial Children's Hospital in 2014 to purchase Giraffe Warmers for its Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Through its Four Winds Casinos, the Pokagon Band also donated US$ 130,400 in gift cards to various charitable causes and events, and continued its support of the South Bend Cubs with the naming rights agreement for Four Winds Field.

Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming economic development charter for the Pokagon Band, also invested US$ 3.7 million in 2014. Since forming in 2007, it has invested US$ 12.3 million in acquisitions and the development of its subsidiaries including Seven Generations Architecture and Engineering, Accu-Mold injection molding manufacturing plant, and Bent Tree Market convenience store and gas station, located near Four Winds Dowagiac.