Poarch Creek Donates $2 Million to Help Elmore and Montgomery County Schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Public schools in Elmore and Montgomery Counties received a much needed infusion of capital today when the Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated $2 million to be divided equally between the two school systems.

Elmore County School Superintendent Dr. Jeffery E. Langham and Montgomery County School Superintendent Barbara W. Thompson were presented checks for their respective school districts by members of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council during an early afternoon ceremony at the Montgomery Public School offices. The Superintendents have full discretion on how the funds will be used.

"Certainly, we can't fix the whole problem," said Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin, "but if we can at least lessen the effects that the economic downturn has on some of our young people's education, we feel blessed to be able to help."

The Tribe decided to make the donation in January as part of its 2012 discretionary budget. The state's public schools have faced three consecutive years of across the board budget cuts, and currently, Alabama lawmakers are in discussions about how to best deal with this year's projected budget shortfalls.

"These funds are an unexpected and very welcome gift to all of us connected with the Elmore County Schools," said Superintendent Langham. "We are extremely grateful to the Tribe for recognizing a need and trying to help."

Montgomery County School Superintendent Barbara W. Thompson noted, "This financial climate has made it difficult to provide the resources that our students and teachers need," said Superintendent Barbara Thompson.  "It's wonderful to have committed partners like the Poarch Creek Indians who care about public education and want to invest in our children. Their support will help us meet those needs."

Several of the Poarch Creek Tribal Council traveled to Montgomery to personally make the award to the Superintendents. "Clearly, our leaders --like families across Alabama-- are having to make hard decisions and make do with less," remarked the Tribe's Treasurer, Robbie McGhee. McGhee, who is also head of the Tribe's Government Affairs office continued, "So many of our employees live in Elmore and Montgomery Counties, and we know how important good schools are to them and their quality of life. We are always willing to try to help our neighbors and work with legislators to solve Alabama's problems."

Last year, the Tribe donated more than $1 million dollars to schools in and around Atmore, Alabama, where its reservation is located.

*****VIDEO of the check donation ceremony suitable for broadcast (H264 format) is available at: www.poarchsupport.com.

About the Poarch Band of Creek Indians

The Poarch Creek Indians are descendants 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. Poarch Creek Indian Gaming manages three gaming facilities in Alabama, including: Wind Creek Casino & Hotel in Atmore; Riverside Casino in Wetumpka; and, Tallapoosa Casino in Montgomery. 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.

SOURCE Poarch Band of Creek Indians