CASINO FUNDS SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR AT RISK CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITIES OF DENZIL, MACKLIN, UNITY, AND WILKIE

Sharon Murrell, Battleford - Cut Knife MLA, on behalf of Municipal

Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Carol Teichrob, announced today

that the Lands West School Division in Wilkie has received $5,000 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,"

Murrell 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."



The Lands West School Division received $5,000 toward the cost of

developing a community-based Summer Headstart Program in Denzil,

Macklin, Unity, and Wilkie. The program will help pre-school and

elementary children acquire and build the skills they need to be

successful in school, as well as identify methods of helping children

develop appropriate social skills.



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.



-30-

For more information, contact:



Trudy Jackson

Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing

Regina, Phone: (306) 787-4011