Welcome

Dear Neighbors,

Like all of you, I was saddened to see the loss of life and destruction wrecked on northern Alabama by the tornadoes in April. Here in Atmore, we live in "hurricane alley" and we know, from experience, how hard it is to rebuild lives after natural disasters.

It is important to us to help our neighbors when we can. That is why we have taken action that will begin to help families get back on their feet, businesses reopen, and ensure that important institutions like schools and churches are repaired and rebuilt.

In May, our Tribal Council voted to donate $500,000 to relief efforts. That money went to three entities; the Red Cross chapters in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham ($50,000 each), Governor Bentley's Emergency Relief Fund ($100,000). We also set up our own Poarch Band of Creek Indians Relief Fund of $300,000 which will donate needed money to local projects in the affected area in the coming weeks and months.

I am particularly pleased that our gaming enterprises, PCI Gaming, is sponsoring "Bama Rising." The benefit concert features wonderful performers and will do a lot to both raise funds and raise awareness of continuing needs in the areas around Birmingham.

This is not an effort that can be completed in just a few weeks. We will continue to pay close attention to the needs of our neighbors and your interest in being part of the solution to the problems left by the tornadoes.

We can all make Alabama whole again with our hard work, our donations, and our prayers.

God Bless,
Buford L. Rolin,
Poarch Tribal Chairman