The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Paragon Casino Resort Donate $10,000 to the CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Foundation for COVID-19 Response Efforts

Donation used to buy four ventilators for CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital’s COVID-19 Unit

Marksville, LA. – (June 10, 2021) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Paragon Casino Resort recently made a $10,000 donation to the CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Foundation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation was used to purchase an additional four ventilators for those in critical care at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Rapides Parish.

Ventilators are life-saving pieces of equipment used to keep patients alive by supporting breathing. They have been vital throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in helping patients to survive. Due to the increased demand, many healthcare facilities around the world have run into shortages of this essential equipment.

“This donation from the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and Paragon Casino Resort couldn’t have come at a more perfect time as were still seeing a surge of COVID cases here in Central Louisiana at the beginning of the year,” said Ashley Walker, executive director of development for the CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Foundation. “Our hospital was immediately able to order additional ventilators to meet the demand, ensuring that we continue to have the ability to serve any and every person in need of care in our area.”

This donation is just one of the ways that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has worked to assist the community and their tribal citizens amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely challenging, especially here in Avoyelles Parish and in order to do our part in this fight, we are honored to donate $10,000 to CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System to treat those in need of critical care,” said Marshall Ray Sampson Sr., vice-chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and assistant general manager of Paragon Casino Resort. “This donation has covered the cost of ventilators in order to treat those in need of critical care. We are grateful to be partners with Cabrini and hope this donation helps to save lives and continue the fight against COVID-19.”

In order to do their part in the fight against COVID-19, the Tribe provided free housing for tribal citizens who tested positive for COVID-19, personal protective equipment (PPE) and an Emergency COVID Assistance Program (E-COVID). The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe also offered a free testing site for the Avoyelles community in June and instituted regulations and safety protocol to keep patrons of Paragon Casino Resort safe.

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