The Chumash Casino Resort presents a large donation to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. The money was raised by a team of resort chefs, who created Project Pink sweets.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians presented the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Thursday with a donation of more than $12,000 for breast cancer research and treatment.
The donation is part of the Chumash Casino Resort’s annual Project Pink campaign, which is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Throughout October, the resort sold pink-colored snacks, sweets, specialty desserts and drinks in its various eateries, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the campaign. This year’s sales totaled $6,331, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation matched that amount, dollar for dollar, resulting in a $12,662 donation to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. (The center has facilities in Santa Barbara and Solvang.)
“We are so grateful to the Chumash Casino Resort and its employees for a successful Project Pink campaign and are honored to receive this financial gift,” said Matt Baumann, vice president of oncology at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. “These funds will allow us to become even more equipped during a challenging season as we advance breast cancer research and treatment, improving survival and quality of life for thousands of patients. We consider it a privilege to serve those facing a cancer diagnosis and are deeply touched when members of our community recognize this commitment and offer their support.”
The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, which is the main fundraising arm for Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, is dedicated to ensuring superior care for all residents of Santa Barbara County, regardless of means.
“We commend the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for their yearly commitment to the care of breast cancer patients from Santa Barbara County and beyond through their Project Pink campaign,” said Lori Willis, the foundation’s executive director. “These proceeds will be put right to work to support Ridley-Tree Cancer Center’s programs and services which are essential to the treatment of breast cancer.”
October’s Project Pink campaign was led by a team of chefs who recreated the familiar lineup of Project Pink sweets and debuted an assortment of new ones. The newest items making their debut for this year’s campaign included cherry matcha cake, pink velvet whoopie pie and pistachio rosewater tart.
“Year after year, our hardworking Food and Beverage team demonstrates its dedication to shedding light on breast cancer awareness,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “We are proud to see these much-needed funds go toward improving the survival and quality of life of patients in Santa Barbara County.”
For more information on the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, visit https://cfsb.org/giving-to-cfsb/give-now/.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving. To find out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visit www.santaynezchumash.org.
— Staff reports
