SAULT STE. MARIE – Organizations in the Upper Peninsula will receive a share of $856,473 in contributions from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

The support to local government and community organizations is part of the twice-annual payments the Sault tribe has distributed since 1993 to U.P. communities based on 2% of its video gaming revenues from Kewadin Casino properties. Counties benefitting from the 2% contributions include Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Schoolcraft, Alger, Delta and Marquette.

Examples of communities and local programs benefitting from the fall 2025 contributions include:

— Lake Superior State University, $9,999.96 for mobile robotics;

— Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, $5,000 for a CAD Unit;

— Rudyard Schools, $5,416.25 to support its cardio lab;

— Garfield Township, $5,000 for Wildland fire fighting boots;

— City of St. Ignace, $5,344.81 for fire department lighting and $12,000 for a police department ballistic shield;

— Schoolcraft Hospital, $8,242.81 for a LUCAS Unit — a portable, mechanical device that provides consistent, high-quality chest compressions for patients in sudden cardiac arrest;

— Schoolcraft Medical Facility, $1,000 for insomnia carts;

— Munising Township Fire Department, $11,352.36 to update its 800 MHz radio; and

— Alger County Sheriff’s Department, $3,274.06 for emergency backpacks.

“Our Kewadin Casino properties are not only economic drivers that support local tourism and entertainment, they are also one of the key ways we are able to give back and help improve our region,” Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes said. “This funding will support a wide range of local programs serving everything from seniors and veterans to parks and recreation and public safety, improved health care and more.”

Between the spring and fall allocations, the Sault tribe has made more than $1.55 million in 2% contributions across the Upper Peninsula in 2025.

“The insomnia carts, what they are are carts that we can use throughout the facility at bedtime where we would have certain items on the carts, and residents can pick out an item to help them sleep better,” said Kendra Lander, office manager/controller at Schoolcraft MCF. “Lavender things, calming things, teddy bears and that kind of thing.”

Sleep disturbances are a common symptom of Alzheimer’s and sleep disturbances can worsen cognitive function, she noted.

The Sault tribe began distributing 2% of its video gaming revenue in 1993 and has since contributed millions of dollars to communities in the U.P. Those interested in reviewing current and past grant recipients can go online to https://kewadin.com/2-percent-donating.