Beacon Health receives $100K donation from Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, Four Winds

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Wednesday, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians presented a check for $100,000 to Beacon Children’s Hospital in South Bend. The donation comes from the proceeds of the 2023 Four Winds Invitational golf tournament which took place from Aug. 10-12 at South Bend Country Club.

Director of Women and Children’s Services for Beacon, Jen Tonkovich, already knows what the funds will be used for.

"Specifically, this year we are ordering two additional warmers for our NICU. So, our goal with that is to get babies out of the incubator as quickly as possible," Tonkovich said. "Additionally, we are ordering what's called a GlideScope for our PICU. We have a GlideScope currently, but this is an updated version that provides a different view. It allows us to pass a Fiber Optic scope into the airway while we're looking to insert the breathing tube."

“We are very thankful for our long-term partnership with the Pokagon Band, its Four Winds Casinos, and all of the donors that have generously supported the Four Winds Invitational over the years," said Tonkovich. "This collective effort and shared passion for helping others continues to make a difference in our efforts to provide lifesaving and critical healthcare to patients and families in the region.”

The Four Winds Invitational is part of the Epson Tour, which is women’s qualifying tour that has been dubbed as the “Road to the LPGA.”

“The Pokagon Band is very proud of our continued sponsorship of the Four Winds Invitational and our annual donations to Beacon Health System and Beacon Children’s Hospital, which now total $992,500 over the past twelve years,” said Rebecca Richards, Tribal Chairwoman for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

Richards also announced the 2024 Four Winds Invitational will take place from Friday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 1 at South Bend Country Club.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our Four Winds team members and partners who have worked tirelessly to host a successful tournament every year since the Four Winds Invitational was first established in 2012," said Clayton Mason, Interim-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Four Winds Casinos. "2024 will mark the 13th edition of the tournament and we look forward to another great event in August.”