By John Gordon

Staff Writer

This past weekend marked the 11th Anniversary of the Morongo Band of Indians Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Taking place in the city of Beaumont, the event, which was the largest in the decade long history has been instrumental in raising and appropriating funds immediately to an array of local charities and had in attendance well over 300 golfers.

Gaurav Mehrotra putts on the 9th hole of the Legends Course while Kyle Kunst (center) and Kenney Fry (left) try to read the green during the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa 11th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. All the players work for Arrowhead Water.

Bob Duistermars, president of the Central County United Way (left), Connie Hall, community relations director for the Central County United Way (center), and Joe Basara, tournament chairman for Morongo (right). The United Way manages the Esperanza Firefighters Assistance Fund, which was one of the four charity recipients of the donations.

Roland Medes who is the current principal of Whitewater School, an institution that caters to special needs and at risk youth and allows them to live and study in the same location, says that the monies generated from the event would be appropriated to technological equipment.

With a history of donations totaling over half a million dollars from this event alone, and a host of other activities throughout the year benefiting local charities, Casino Morongo appears to be living up to their slogan of wanting "you" to win, at least as a community.