Puyallup tribal casino aids festival

Monday, March 6, 2000 | 9:30 a.m.

The donation will help the annual festival in Tacoma and the Puyallup Valley overcome an expected $45,000 shortfall that surfaced after the city of Fife reduced its expected contribution.

"We are not a rich tribe," Tribal Chairman Larry LaPointe said. "We have debts, too. But we found the money because we want to see it succeed. The tribe and the Daffodil Parade are part of the community."

In return for the donation Friday, the casino becomes the festival's official sponsor, meaning it receives added promotion and year-round advertising, festival executive director Matt Richardson said.

The donation, which represents nearly a quarter of the festival's annual budget, was approved by the tribal council.

Richardson said the festival's advertising budget would have been sharply cut without the tribal donation.

The Daffodil Festival is the main community celebration in Tacoma and the Puyallup Valley. It includes the Daffodil Parade April 15 in Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting.

In 1997 and 1998, the tribe donated $50,000 to help fund the Fourth of July celebration over Commencement Bay in Tacoma.