Poarch Band of Creek Indians Donate $500,000 to Help With Relief Efforts in Aftermath of Historic Tornado Outbreak

POARCH CREEK INDIAN RESERVATION, Ala., May 6, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribe is joining in efforts to help tornado victims by donating a half million dollars to relief efforts.

In announcing the donation, Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin noted, "I think everyone who has seen the pictures of the destruction caused by the tornadoes that struck our State wants to help any way that they can. We hope this donation will help begin to ease some of the suffering of our neighbors. This is the first of what we want to do to help, and we look forward to continue to work with relief agencies on the ground in the affected areas."

Members of the Poarch Creek Tribal Council voted last night to make the donation after members of the Council toured the destruction last week. The donation, which is part of the Tribe's ongoing Planned Giving Campaign, will be distributed to several organizations. Both the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Chapters of the American Red Cross will receive $50,000. The Tribe will donate $100,000 to Governor Bentley's Emergency Relief Fund. The remaining $300,000 will go to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Disaster Relief Fund to assist in additional disaster relief efforts that will be distributed according to local needs throughout the affected areas.

"All of us at Poarch Creek still remember how relief organizations like the Red Cross helped us after Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis hit our area," noted April Sells, Tribal Emergency Management Director for the Poarch Creeks.  "We had so many people in the area without food, water, electricity, or ice. Thanks to the Red Cross, we were able to feed everyone in the community twice a day after the storm and take care of their basic needs. We are thrilled to be able to give back to that organization and others who are helping families who have lost so much," she said.

"We feel for the victims of this disaster and want to do anything we can to help," said Robert McGhee, Tribal Council Treasurer and Governmental Relations Advisor.  "Immediately after the tornadoes hit, the Tribe's emergency management response teams were dispatched to the area to help with disaster relief. The Tribal Council hopes this donation will be another way the Tribe can continue to assist Alabamians weather this disaster. And as efforts to rebuild begin, we will continue to do what we can to aid families as they start anew."

About the Poarch Band of Creek Indians

The Poarch Creek Indians are descendents of a segment of the original Creek Nation, which once covered almost all of Alabama and Georgia.  Unlike many eastern Indian tribes, the Poarch Creeks were not removed from their tribal lands and have lived together for almost 200 years in and around the reservation in Poarch, Alabama. The reservation is located eight miles northwest of Atmore, Alabama in rural Escambia County, and 57 miles east of Mobile.  

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, operating as a sovereign nation with its own system of government and bylaws.  The Tribe operates a variety of economic enterprises, which employ hundreds of area residents.  The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is an active partner in the state of Alabama, contributing to economic, educational, social and cultural projects benefiting both tribal members and residents of these local communities and neighboring towns.

The Tribe's Planned Giving Campaign includes significant donations to local schools, education scholarships, senior centers, youth athletics, and charitable organizations.  

SOURCE Poarch Band of Creek Indians