NAIG receives big financial boost from SIGA
- Judy Bird | February 03, 2014
The 2014 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) received a boost in its corporate funding with a $250,000 donation from the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).
"As a First Nations company, we put a high priority on giving back. When we can give back to events that really invest in youth and develop them, it's a fantastic cause. This is a major contribution for us, one of the largest we've ever done," said Zane Hansen, President and CEO of SIGA.
"To have one of our own First Nations companies step up and be the largest donor to the games, it speaks volumes of the company at SIGA, of our leaders, and it really helps our bottom line," said Glen Pratt, CEO of the Regina 2014 NAIG.
"It's really going to help overall with our cultural village. We get operational dollars from the two levels of governments that help us to house the athletes, feed the athletes, do the basic things, and so by having more sponsors, we get to do more things like the cultural village and enhance the games the best we can," he said.
The goal is to raise $2 million in corporate sponsorship. With this latest donation from SIGA, they are about half way to reaching that goal. Pratt hopes that other corporations follow suit and support the games.
"It's been a bit of a challenge to compete with the Grey Cup and with other large scale events. Hopefully this will kick-start other corporations to come on board and support us, the same way the support the Riders, the Canada Games and beyond," he added.
NAIG was given just over $7 million in government funding but the rest must be raised. Pratt hopes that they committee can raise that, and more in order to leave a half million dollar legacy for future games.
Other games, such as the Pan-Am games and the Canada Games have legacy funds (over one billion, and about 80 million respectively) but NAIG does not.
"Our games are just as large as other games; in fact we're larger than Canada games, we have more athletes. We have very big games (to put on) but were doing it on a bare bones budget," Pratt said.
The 2014 NAIG games take place in Regina July 20-27 and bring about $32 million in economic impact to the city.
For more information, or to sign up as a volunteer for the games, visit NAIG's website.