The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and Four Winds Casinos have made a $127,500 donation to Beacon Health System at a special ceremony in downtown South Bend, Indiana

The funds, which were raised via this year’s Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend, will be used to underwrite the purchase of pediatric eye imaging equipment for the hospital. This is the eighth year of the partnership between The Pokagon Band, Four Winds Casinos and Blackthorn, with proceeds totaling $672,500 for Beacon Health System.

“We are incredibly grateful for our long-standing friendship with the Pokagon Band, Four Winds Casinos and Blackthorn,” said Larry Tracy, President of Beacon Children’s Hospital. “In eight years, they have raised well over a half-million dollars to fund projects that directly help people when they need it most. We’re a stronger community because of them.” 

“A guiding principle of the Pokagon Band is its commitment to the health and security of families and children,” said its Chairman Matthew Wesaw. “This event is a time-honored tradition for our region — and one that aligns with our values through their willingness to support organizations like Beacon.”

“Four Winds Casinos is proud to sponsor the Four Winds Invitational and support a great organization like Beacon,” said the casino’s COO Frank Freedman. “Collectively, we all work hard to create an event that makes this tremendous impact on our region. We’ll continue to make it bigger and better each year—it’s going to be great for our community for many years to come.”

Previously, the Invitational has helped construct a multi-story building above the Memorial Leighton Trauma Center for the General Pediatrics Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Newborn Intensive Care unit, and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic. 

The building, part of the hospital’s SHINE Campaign, features extended family rooms, single family rooms, playrooms and teen hideout spaces for patients, Family Enrichment Centers, a rooftop garden, a butterfly room for families grieving the loss of a child, patient power-load systems and portable radios.

Funds have also allowed Beacon Children’s Hospital to purchase a pediatric ambulance, MedFlight incubator and ultrasound, giraffe warmers for the NICU, patient simulators to assist with educating and training area pediatric healthcare professionals, and power lifts for the pediatric ambulances.