Barona Tribe Awards $5,000 Education Grant to Diegueño Middle School in Encinitas

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 15, 2014) - Students and educators at Diegueño Middle School received a $5,000 grant today from the Barona Band of Mission Indians. The Encinitas school will use the funds to provide students with updated technology by purchasing 20 Chromebooks; personal computers featuring the Chrome OS operating system.

The school's grant was sponsored by Senator Mark Wyland whose district includes Encinitas. Diegueño Middle School is a National Blue Ribbon School serving more than 900 7^th and 8^th grade students.

"We are proud to be able to continue providing deserving schools with the educational materials they need through the Barona Education Grant program," said Clifford LaChappa, Chairman of the Barona Band of Mission Indians. "We would like to thank Senator Mark Wyland for reaching out to us and congratulate Principal Bryan Marcus on the hard work that has made Diegueño a nationally recognized school."

Since 2006, the Barona Band of Mission Indians has awarded over $2.1 million to 423 schools statewide to help bridge school budget gaps and share resources through its Barona Education Grant Program.

The program is the first of its kind in California created and administered by a Tribal Government. The goal of the program is to create strong educational opportunities for the children of California building upon the success of the Barona Indian Charter School, which operates under a continuous improvement model. Schools throughout California can apply for educational grants from Barona to purchase much needed supplies and materials that promote academic improvement. Each grant awarded by the Barona Education Grant Program is $5,000. Applications can be downloaded at http://barona-nsn.gov/education.

About the Barona Band of Mission Indians
The Barona Band of Mission Indians, recognized by the United States government as a sovereign nation, has lived on the Barona Indian Reservation in rural eastern San Diego County since 1932. Prior to that, the Tribe lived on the Capitan Grande Reservation which was established by the federal government in 1875. Long before living on a reservation, the Tribe traveled across Southern California in tune with the seasons and what nature provided. Today, the sovereign nation, governed by an elected Tribal Council, is serving its Tribal members, their families, and sharing with the San Diego region. One of the most successful gaming Tribes in the country, Barona also owns and operates the Barona Resort & Casino, San Diego's leading gaming resort, casino and golf course. For more information, visit www.barona-nsn.gov.