20 Arizona Gaming Guide | July 2012 | azgamingguide.com Why? Because in 2002, when voters passed Proposition 202 which ensured that tribes could continue to have gaming compacts with the State of Arizona, Tribal leaders established the Arizona Benefits Fund which shares revenue with all Arizonans. Reve- nues directly support education, trauma and emergency care, wildlife conservation and economic development through tour- ism in this state, issues that Tribal people, like all Arizonans, care deeply about. The fund also provides revenue to fully sup- port the Arizona Department of Gaming and various programs that help problem gamblers. So how has this worked out? The numbers tell the tale. The grand total from ten years of giv- ing back to Arizona is $782,029,895.95 – and growing. Since 2002, Tribes have contributed more than $701,000,000.00 to the Arizona Benefits Fund which has meant that school districts statewide have received more than $344,000,000 to pay for teachers’ salaries, reduce class size, prevent student drop out and enhance and improve instruction in core subjects like read- ing and math. Sixty-four hospitals statewide have received more than $172,000,000 for emergency services and trauma care. Arizona Gaming Tribes Here are just a few… The UMC Level 1 Trauma Center is one of eight centers in the State and is the busiest trauma center in Arizona. It serves a population of 1.5 million people. It’s also among the nation’s leaders in length of hospital stay, low treat- ment costs, and low mortality rates. According to Peter Rhee, M.D., medical director, UMC Trauma Program and chief, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, UA Department of Surgery, “Without the money made available from the tribal leaders, the trauma center in Tucson would not be where it is today.” Arizona Benefits Fund dollars are supporting Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) marketing campaigns and pro- tecting habitats for Arizona wildlife like Desert Bighorn Sheep and Gould’s Turkey. The Willcox Fire Department received $125,000 from the Tohono O’odham Nation to buy a Type 6 Quick Attack Truck which is used in wildland fire fighting. “We are a small community in the southeast corner of the state, and we are on a state contract to protect wildlands. We work The math is impressive but the real impact is found in the stories.