The Christmas season officially began last weekend as Blue Lake Rancheria (BLR) leadership joined community members and the Blue Lake Elementary Children’s Choir for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Blue Lake Casino & Hotel. During the tree lighting ceremony, BLR leadership presented Toys for Tots with an extraordinary $90,000 donation. Toys for Tots is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program dedicated to collecting and distributing toys to children in need during the holiday season. The Humboldt/Del Norte/Trinity/Northern Mendocino chapter serves thousands of families each year across the region.
For nearly 20 years, Blue Lake Casino has been the leading sponsor of the Toys for Tots program on California’s North Coast. Each year, the partnership between Toys for Tots, Blue Lake Casino & Hotel, and the Blue Lake Rancheria grows stronger. Their joint commitment ensures that no child in our region is forgotten on Christmas — a mission that has become part of the holiday fabric of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
Blue Lake Casino’s guests also play an essential role in this annual tradition. Through their participation in the Casino’s holiday promotions and Donation Days, patrons help generate the funds that make this incredible level of giving possible. Their support — year after year — means that thousands of children throughout our region will wake up on Christmas morning with a smile, a gift, and the feeling that someone cares. Toys for Tots is deeply grateful for the generosity of Blue Lake Casino’s customers, whose kindness continues to brighten the holidays for families across the North Coast.
This longstanding partnership began with the vision and leadership of Arla Ramsey, and today continues under her son, Jason Ramos, Chairperson of the Blue Lake Rancheria. Supporting him is a deeply committed leadership team, including:
- Stan Kott, President, Blue Lake Casino
- Jason Ramos, Chairperson, Blue Lake Rancheria
- Jace Baldosser, Casino Manager
- Sam Wedll, Director of Marketing
- Toni Brown, Communications Director & Tribal Administrative Assistant
“Toys for Tots is profoundly grateful for this incredible gift. There are many charities Blue Lake Casino could support, but for two decades they have chosen us as their signature holiday partner. Their generosity has touched tens of thousands of children. Their unwavering commitment has ensured that every child in our region has the chance to experience the joy of opening a present on Christmas morning. On Christmas morning, when these children wake up with a present they never expected, I hope Blue Lake’s leadership — and every single one of their patrons — knows they helped make that moment happen. I love Christmas, and I love Blue Lake Casino and Rancheria for what they do for this community.” – Gregg Gardiner, Toys for Tots Coordinator