Tribal Casinos & Music Fans Come Together to Raise $10K for Native Youth
What do you get when you bring together Tribal casinos, famous music acts, 15 autographed guitars, and a worthy cause? A rockin’ fundraiser raising critical dollars for the Notah Begay III Foundation.
The Native Strong Comedy Slam added a new element in its sixth year, a 100% virtual, on-line guitar auction. Tribal casinos from across the country generously donated autographed guitars signed by famous musicians – Wynonna Judd, Loverboy, Styx, Foreigner, and more! After the 2020 Comedy Slam show was cancelled due to Covid, the fundraising went fully digital – music lovers from across the country bid on autographed guitars in an online auction closing July 2021.
Deana Scott, Raving CEO, shared, “what I love about this event was the collaboration between Native casinos, artists, and the industry that came together to support the NB3 Foundation during a really difficult time. Just that people contributed, even amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, was inspiring to watch.”
Special thanks to the Tribal casinos that donated guitars
Music fans plus event supports, AGEM, Bold Concepts and University of Phoenix, contributed to the success of this year’s event. Through online guitar bids and donations, $10,000 was raised for the NB3 Foundation.
What does this mean for Native Youth?
Cyanne Lujan, Director of Advancement, NB3 Foundation, shares “The funds raised from the online guitar auction will be used to support our programs for Native youth, specifically our NB3FIT programs. Our ability to host programs at an affordable rate and offer scholarship opportunities would not be possible without the support of organizations like Raving. We would like to express our appreciation to the tribal casinos who donated signed guitars and other memorabilia to the auction. We are grateful for the continued support of Raving and their partners for Native youth and communities.”
To learn more about the Notah Begay III Foundation, who they serve and how the foundation got its roots, check out the video interviews and articles below. You can also donate directly to the Foundation to support scholarships for participants.
About Raving
Raving is a full-service, Native-owned, casino and hospitality company that has worked with clients globally since 1998. The company partners with Tribal casinos and gaming companies worldwide to strategically improve overall operations and profitability. Additionally, Raving produces numerous educational publications, including the Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Magazine, and conferences such as Raving NEXT: Indian Gaming Analytics & Marketing Conference.
About the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation
Proceeds from the Native Strong Comedy Slam & Jam Guitar Aution Fundraiser go to the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, a national, award-winning Native American nonprofit organization dedicated to Native American children’s health. Their mission is to ensure Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health. The NB3 Foundation invests in evidence-based, community-driven and culturally relevant programs. All to promote healthy nutrition, physical activity, cultural connections and youth development. They are committed to a vision that all children have the opportunity to live healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.