Partnering with the Community
What makes HeadWaters Resort & Casino different from other casinos is our firm and unwavering commitment to community. We look forward to being your neighbor on the waterfront and hope to build a reputation as a compassionate corporate citizen of the City of Norfolk.
Unlike international corporate casino operators, the HeadWaters Resort & Casino operators are members of the community and plan to reinvest a great deal of time, energy and financial resources back into Norfolk, the Hampton Roads region and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole. To this end, you can count on the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to be a true partner with the City to make this a project of which we can all be proud. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe know what it is like to need better access to essential services and resources and is excited to do their part to give back to the Norfolk community.
The Tribe isn’t waiting for HeadWaters to open before getting involved in the community. They are making access to food the cornerstone of their community service. Food insecurity is an issue close to the heart of the Tribe, and they are committed to addressing this complex issue in Norfolk. They have been partnering with churches and non-profits in Norfolk to replenish food pantries and provide hot meals to those in need. Through these partnerships the Tribe has delivered over 350,000 meals to neighbors in need. In addition to providing individual meals, the Tribe wants to help address the areas of the city which are currently food desserts – areas where there are no grocery stores for residents to shop. The Tribe has announced its commitment to provide $150,000 in financing to re-open a much-needed grocery store in the St. Paul’s neighborhood, which has been a food desert since the one grocery store in that community closed. And this is just the beginning. The Tribe’s effort to fight food insecurity also includes sponsoring the annual Turkey Trailer event. In 2021 and 2022 the Tribe supported more than 5,000 families by providing turkeys at Thanksgiving and looks forward to continuing these efforts for years to come.
The Tribe has also partnered with the Norfolk Tides to sponsor tickets for community organizations and local non-profits to attend baseball games. Throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons the Tribe distributed hundreds of free tickets to the community organizations who are doing crucial work in the Hampton Road Community to fight food insecurity, support children, and countless other charitable endeavors.
In addition to hands-on partnerships with community organizations and philanthropic causes throughout the City, the Tribe is going to be contributing to Norfolk’s flood resiliency plan along the Elizabeth River, making them the first private developer in the entire City to provide critical funding for this important and time-sensitive undertaking that will help protect Norfolk from sea level rise for generations to come. With a reservation surrounded by the Pamunkey River and much of its land a wetland, the Tribe is particularly sensitive to flooding and pleased to be part of helping the City address this issue.
