Summary:
Proposition 202, passed with the 2002 Gaming Compact in Arizona, directs participating Tribal Governments to share gaming revenues with surrounding local governments. Nonprofit organizations (501c3 organizations) are only eligible to compete for Indian Community gaming grants as long as they have a local government agreeing to serve as a pass through agent. As a pass through agent, the local government receives the grant award from the Indian Community and forwards the amount to the nonprofit organization.
Soldier’s Best Friend, a 501c3 organization, applied for Gila River Indian Community grant funding and identified the City of Peoria as the pass through agent. Peoria has acted as the pass through agent for Solder’s Best Friend in the past when they have received grant awards from the Gila River Indian Community.
Gila River Indian Community awarded Soldier's Best Friend, $50,000 to fund two years ($25,000 per year) of their Service/Therapeutic Companion Dog Training program. Soldier’s Best Friend is located in Peoria and provides U.S. Military Veterans living with combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injury with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs, most of which are rescued from local shelters. The veterans and dog train together to build a trusting relationship that touches two lives at once and inspires countless other.