TULALIP — The sixth annual Taste of Tulalip kicked off Nov. 14 with its celebration dinner, and a $20,000 contribution to improve the well-being of the Tulalip and surrounding communities.
The Tulalip Tribes and the Tulalip Resort Casino each presented checks for $10,000 to Nicole Sieminski, director of the nonprofit charity, the Tulalip Foundation.
“As we’ve watched the Taste of Tulalip grow over the years, we wanted to join with the tribes’ board of directors in making a powerful statement about how much Tulalip cares,” said Marilyn Sheldon, director of charitable contributions for the tribes.
Sheldon noted that Tulalip provided more than 300 organizations with nearly $7 million this last year alone. In the past 22 years, she estimated that Tulalip has made $63 million in similar contributions.
Sieminski recalled how the Tulalip Foundation began in 2007, and tackled the Hibulb Cultural Center as its first capital campaign.
“During those seven years, we’ve expanded into addressing educational and legal needs,” Sieminski said.
Sieminski added that, thanks to the tribes paying 100 percent of the foundation’s operating costs, every public donation goes toward its earmarked causes.
Lisa Severn, food and beverage director for the Tulalip Resort Casino, praised the tribes for matching the casino’s donations this year, in between introducing Executive Chef Perry Mascitti, and sommelier and wine buyer Tommy Thompson.
“I love food, as you can tell by my perfect chiseled body,” Mascitti joked, before he and Thompson listed 120 artisan winemakers, 24 craft brewmasters and eight chefs who contributed to the dinner’s seven-course meal.
Each year’s Taste of Tulalip has featured a theme. Each course this year was accompanied by songs that inspired or complemented them.
“Eight months ago, I was cooking one day and trying to figure out what was missing, and it was music,” Mascitti said. “Who can cook without good music?”
While Mascitti and Thompson’s comments drew laughter, Severn turned serious as she reflected on the fellowship that the Taste of Tulalip offers.
“We’ve helped a lot of people in the last year, from the Oso slide to the recent tragedy in the schools,” Severn said. “It’s been a really tough year for our communities, the kind that makes you want to hug your friends and family, so we are grateful for what we have here.”
