CASINO FUNDS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN MEADOW LAKE, PIERCELAND AND GOODSOIL

Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Maynard Sonntag,

on behalf of Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Carol

Teichrob today announced that five community groups from Meadow Lake,

Pierceland and Goodsoil have received $20,720 in casino profits

through the Associated Entities Fund.



"The province established the Associated Entities Fund to distribute a

portion of casino profits for the benefit of Saskatchewan people,"

Sonntag said. "Since the beginning of 1997 more than $4.5 million in

casino profits have been distributed throughout Saskatchewan for

programs that support children, youth and families."



Community groups received funding for the following projects:



The Meadow Lake and Area Early Childhood Intervention Program

received $4,000 toward pre-school playgroups for children with

developmental delays to help build their skills in speech,

language, problem solving and physical motor development.



The Meadow Lake School Division received $4,000 toward a summer

recreation program for children and youth ages ten to 13

providing a variety of education-related activities such as

co-operative games, court and field sports, swimming, arts and

crafts, music and first aid.



The Meadow Lake Pentecostal Church received $4,000 toward a

summer recreation program including activities for children

ages six to nine which build self-esteem and self-worth

through educational videos and speakers, physical

activities, games, and crafts.



The Goodsoil Community Centre received $4,000 toward a

summer activities program for children ages four to 10 who

will participate in a structured program of supervised

learning and recreation activities to build self-esteem and

increase awareness of healthy lifestyle activities.



The Pierceland Recreation Association received $4,720 toward

a summer activities program for children and youth ages

three to 12 which uses video tapes, field trips and reading

as means of increasing children's awareness of drugs,

alcohol and abuse.



The Associated Entities Fund receives a portion of the profits

from Casino Regina, the Gold Eagle Casino in North Battleford,

the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert and the Painted Hand

Casino in Yorkton.



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For more information, contact:



Trudy Jackson

Communications

Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4011