The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s gaming enterprises, Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort, made history when they were announced as the first-ever Diamond Presenting Sponsor for the Phoenix Indian Center’s annual Silver and Turquoise Ball.

3 Takeaways:

– The Phoenix Indian Center announced Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort as the first Diamond Presenting Sponsor of the annual Silver & Turquoise Ball.
– In the 43-year history of the event, there has never been a Diamond Presenting Sponsor.
– This year’s ball will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Talking Stick Resort.

Once again, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community continues to make history on the local and state levels.

This year’s annual Silver & Turquoise Ball will be held on Oct. 17 at the Talking Stick Resort. This year’s theme, “Relatives Rooted in Community,” celebrates the togetherness, relationships, traditions and culture that Indigenous people share with each other.

In the ball’s 43-year history, there has never been a Diamond Presenting Sponsor.

That streak ended on Aug. 27, when the Phoenix Indian Center announced Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort as the Diamond Presenting Sponsor of the 43rd Annual Silver & Turquoise Ball.

With only a handful of days remaining until the big day, Phoenix Indian Center CEO Jolyana Begay-Krupa talked with O’odham Action News and shared the impact of the gaming enterprise being the first-ever $100,000 Diamond Presenting Sponsor.

“It’s definitely a record,” began Begay-Krupa. “We’ve reached $75,000 before, which is still a huge amount, but this is a first. We’re deeply grateful for their generosity. The event itself is our signature event; this is a good thing for the Phoenix Indian Center.”

The Phoenix Indian Center provides workforce-development opportunities including résumé assistance, prevention services, youth services and community engagements, as well as cultural enrichment classes and events throughout the year. This year’s record-setting sponsorship by the gaming enterprise will ensure that these types of classes, programs and opportunities will continue to be available for Indigenous people.

Poetically enough, the theme of this year’s Silver & Turquoise Ball being “Relatives Rooted in Community” proved to have an added layer of meaning for Begay-Krupa and Patricia Tate, the CEO of Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.

“She’s an amazing person,” said Begay-Krupa about Tate. “Back in March or so this year, the Phoenix Business Journal held their Outstanding Women in Business Awards. Patricia was a recipient and so was I. That was really neat. We got to know each other, and we met a number of women that were recognized. She was chief financial officer at the time, and then I heard she is now recognized as CEO. That was so amazing,” Begay-Krupa added.

Additionally, this year’s Silver & Turquoise Ball will feature a friend of the SRPMIC, chef Pyet DeSpain. She was recently announced as the event’s chef. Earlier this year, DeSpain spent a week in the Community as part of her cookbook promotional tour.

With only days remaining until the event, this year’s Silver & Turquoise Ball will undoubtedly continue to connect and support relatives while celebrating the traditions, cultures and songs that make being Indigenous so wonderful.