We care about the community
At Blue Lake Rancheria, we believe in the power of community, education, and giving back. Whether it’s supporting local initiatives, providing educational opportunities, or lending a helping hand in times of need, our commitment to building a stronger, more resilient community is at the heart of everything we do. Together, we make a difference!
The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe supports education, public safety, food programs, clean energy, transportation, and other social service and community-building efforts for Tribal members and the greater region. Examples include:
- $1 million to Blue Lake Unified School District
- $80,000 in scholarships to all Blue Lake School graduates who earn a high school diploma.
- $1 million to Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department
- $300,000 to City of Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant
- $250,000 to City of Blue Lake Parks and Recreation
- $500,000 to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office
- $2 million to Toys For Tots, Betty Chinn, St. Vincent DePaul, and other local advocates and non-profits serving those most in need.
- $1 million to emergency preparedness strategies
Blue Lake Elementary School
Every eighth grade graduate at Blue Lake School who goes on to earn their high school diploma receives a $500 scholarship from the Blue Lake Rancheria. The Tribe’s High School Incentive Program is intended to encourage high school graduation.
“At the Blue Lake Rancheria, we believe in the power of learning, and the opportunity that education affords for an individual,” Jason Ramos, Blue Lake Rancheria Council Member told eighth graders on graduation day.
Ramos went on to say, “My message to the graduates sitting here today, is to keep the momentum up. You can use the same hard work and diligence that you used here at Blue Lake School to be successful in the future.”
In the last 20 years, the Blue Lake Rancheria has donated over 1.5 million dollars to educational programs in the Humboldt County region.
“We are confident that you will carry the work ethic that brought you here tonight, and forward into endeavors that really need your talents and help,” Jana Ganion, Sustainability and Government Affairs Director, said.
The program has helped improve graduation rates, and the Tribe has funded over $90,000 in scholarships to date. “For me personally, not just being in charge of the department, I feel that I am proud. My heart is warm. I feel the best feeling you can have and it’s free,” Bonnie Mobbs, education coordinator, said.
Education is the Blue Lake Rancheria’s highest priority. The Tribe supports hands-on educational and workforce development efforts that benefit native and non-native students and professionals across the region.
Toys For Tots
The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe raises $75,000 for children in the Toys for Tots program
To help ensure thousands of families on the North Coast will be able to celebrate the holiday season with gifts, the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe helped raise $75,000 for Humboldt County’s Toys for Tots chapter, after hundreds of customers from the Tribe’s largest business enterprise, Blue Lake Casino Hotel, participated in a holiday gift drive.
“The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe values giving to the community and investing in the region’s youth. It’s an honor to know we are contributing to making a difference in children’s lives around the holidays, and to see the success of the Toys for Tots program continue to thrive and grow,” Arla Ramsey, Tribal vice chairperson, said.
The program serves 8900 kids in Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, and Mendocino counties.
“Toys for Tots embodies the true spirit of Christmas. The gift of a new toy, something that most children take for granted, means to a needy child that someone cares,” Gregg Gardiner, Toys for Tots local coordinator, said.
The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe and Green Diamond Resource Company are the largest supporters of the Toys for Tot program on the North Coast – Green Diamond provides a warehouse to store the toys and conduct year-round operations, while the Tribe provides the largest financial contribution to purchase toys in bulk each year from manufacturers and suppliers. When Christmas nears, the toys purchased through the Tribe’s donation are sorted by volunteers and prepared for the various distribution sites that open up to needy families in mid-December.
Since the initiative started, the Tribe has raised over $1 million for the local Toys for Tots chapter that serves children on the North Coast.
“Toys for Tots does a fantastic job in our community, and helps so many children in need this time of year. The Tribe is humbled to see how the contributions given over the last decade have made a difference in helping thousands of local families,” Jason Ramos, Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal council member, said.
“The Marine Corps Reserve believes that every child deserves a little Christmas. Toys for Tots relies on donations, and this year more than ever before, we are asking the community to send the needy children of our community a message of hope through the gift of a new toy or you cash donation,” Gardner said.
People can donate new toys for the program at the 70 toy drop-off locations throughout the community or donate money to help purchase the toys in bulk.
Humboldt County Sheriff's Department
Blue Lake Casino & Hotel and the Blue Lake Rancheria donated $100,000 to the Humboldt County Sherrif’s Department to upgrade communications equipment in their cars.