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Let’s face it: casinos don’t get the best wrap. Matter of fact, they get quite a negative perception.
Around the country, it seems like casinos are everyone’s favorite whipping boy. Gambling addiction? It’s the casinos fault. Bad economy? The casino is bleeding folks dry. Crime? It happens at casinos late at night. Offshore sportsbooks? Sheltering illegal money. You get what we mean, it just seems like every social ill gets pinned on casinos.
That’s not to say it’s not deserved. We’re not going to pretend it’s a pristine industry. But at the same time, some good does come out of the gaming industry — you just never hear of it.
That’s why we wanted to update you on an awesome story in Washington — the state, not the nation’s capital. There’s a casino here that brought Christmas a little early to its local community. You’re going want to keep reading this, especially if you need a little “pick me up.”
Legends Casino Hotel Gives Back
For those not in the know, Washington betting is controlled entirely by federally recognized tribes in the area. Only them are allowed to offer legal betting, both in sports and casino form.
Now there are a lot of places to gamble in the state. By our count, there are about 30 different casinos in Washington. But not many of them give back like Legends Casino Hotel does.
Each year, the Yakama Nation-owned casino hands out over $1 million in grants through two programs — Yakama Cares and the Community Impact Fund. Between the two, 133 nonprofits and public service organizations in Washington’s Yakima Valley just got a major boost in 2025.
Earlier this month, the casino held an award ceremony for all the winners. It included each one holding a giant check — like they do in golf — with the amount they won. It’s glitzy, sure, but it’s also about connecting the community together.
“I love hearing their stories,” said the casino’s marketing director, Dederie Fojuwaye. “Those children are our future.”
How The Grants Work
The grants come straight from casino revenue. By law, one-half of one percent of the casino’s net proceeds are earmarked for these causes. So yes, there are some obligations here, but that doesn’t take away from Legends’ good deed.
Yakama Cares awards smaller grants — typically between $1,000 and $15,000 — to organizations helping families, veterans, and the homeless population. The Community Impact Fund covers bigger-ticket items, especially for public safety agencies like police and fire departments.
This year, they awarded $1.09 million total. Yes, over a million in grants! That’s not chump change by any stretch of the nation.
One new wrinkle this year? Stricter eligibility. In 2025, applicants had to be both a nonprofit and a charity — not just one or the other. That meant fewer applications overall, but 76% were deemed eligible compared to just 46% last year. Fojuwaye expects even more groups to apply next year as federal funding for local services continues to dry up.
What Types Of Businesses Benefitted?
Legends Casino wouldn’t want this story to be about them. They’d put the spotlight on the organizations that received a grant, which stretched across numerous industries. Let’s highlight just a few of the winners.
One of the standout recipients was the Toppenish Food Bank. They serve 800 families a month — and up to 70 homeless individuals a day. They plan to use the grant money on food, hygiene products, and school supplies. “Without our community, we wouldn’t be here,” said the director of the Toppenish Food Bank, Cecilia Chavez. “The support from the casino is a way of saying thank you.”
The Memorial Foundation, a key healthcare partner of Yakima Memorial Hospital, also received funds. The grant helps them support everything from birth services to end-of-life care. “When you’re fighting for your life and struggling with utility bills, gas, and groceries, it can feel like the weight of the world,” said relationship officer Josh Munson. “These funds help lift that burden.”
Yakima County Fire District 5 pulled in $40,000 to buy new emergency equipment. The SWAT team got over $18,000 to replace aging gear. The sheriff’s office landed over $43,000 for defibrillators and other life-saving tools. Even drug enforcement benefited — the LEAD task force received over $12,000 to purchase a drone and pole camera to help officers safely locate suspects in buildings.
And it’s not just about safety. One $15,000 grant went to Camp Woods Legacy, which provides service dogs for schools to offer emotional support to students. Another $15,000 went to Service Peace Warriors to help feed the dozens of dogs they train for veterans dealing with PTSD.
That’s what this money really does — fills gaps where government or private support falls short. It’s direct community aid, paid forward from casino revenue and backed by nearly 30 years of tribal leadership.
So yeah, casinos aren’t perfect — no one’s arguing that. But when they operate like Legends does, it’s hard to ignore the good. This isn’t about PR or puff pieces. It’s about real people getting real help. That’s the kind of impact that matters. And in an industry that often gets blamed for taking too much, Legends is out here showing what it looks like to give something back.
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