TUCSON, AZ / AGILITYPR.NEWS / August 20, 2026 / Jay'vion Cole Foundation and K Cares Foundation Joined Casino Del Sol and UA Student-Athletes for Events at New Pascua and Old Pascua, Marking a 200-Backpack Increase Over Last Year

Casino Del Sol, the award-winning resort enterprise owned and operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, joined the Jay'vion Cole Foundation and the K Cares Foundation for a two-day community backpack give-back benefiting Pascua Yaqui youth and their families. The event was held across both of the Tribe's communities – Saturday, July 25 at New Pascua inside the Pascua Yaqui Health Department's newer facility and Sunday, July 26 at Old Pascua – bringing together University of Arizona Football and local volunteers to distribute backpacks and school supplies as part of Casino Del Sol's ongoing commitment to giving back to the Southern Arizona community it calls home.

University of Arizona football student-athletes personally brought and distributed nearly 1,000 backpacks, an increase of roughly 200 backpacks over last year's total of approximately 800, reflecting the growing reach of the partnership each year. Each day began with visits from the University of Arizona mascots in the morning, followed by University of Arizona football student-athletes in the afternoon.

The backpack drive was founded to serve, uplift, and empower youth, and reflects a continued partnership between Casino Del Sol and community organizations dedicated to investing in the next generation of Pascua Yaqui youth.

“I believe that the event today reflects Casino Del Sol’s commitment to giving back to our community, being able to have collaboration with not only the University of Arizona, but many different resources here on our Tribal reservation. I would just like to thank UA football and all of their volunteers, and the University of Arizona, for their collaboration in allowing this event to be possible,” said Naiyma Martinez, President of the Yoeme Youth Council.

“This definitely reflects a lot of the initiatives Casino Del Sol does to give back to our community members who are Tribal members, but then also some family members who are not Tribal members. Having the athletes here today for the football club is very beautiful, because when I was young, I don’t recall really seeing athletes here. It’s an experience that younger generations will see — I think it’s wonderful, and it helps our students aspire to something great. It means a lot to have student athletes here for the younger generation — it shows them that they can make it, and that student athletes do care,” said Thomas J. Cupis, Treasurer of the PYT Tribal Council.

“Today we partner with Casino Del Sol on a backpack drive to serve, uplift, and empower youth,” said Jay’vion Cole, current cornerback for University of Arizona Football and Founder of the Jay’vion Cole Foundation. Alongside Cole was Kedrick Reescano, Founder of the K Cares Foundation, who also partnered to give back to local youth.

“Casino Del Sol Stadium is far more than a name on a marquee — it is a partnership that reaches deep into this community. When our University of Arizona student-athletes show up in person, the way they did this weekend, it gives our young people real hope and excitement, and it brings genuine joy to our elders. That is the impact we set out to make when we entered this partnership, and it is exactly what we saw on the ground at New Pascua and Old Pascua,” said Amanda Sampson Lomayesva, Interim CEO of Casino Del Sol.

The event underscores Casino Del Sol's ongoing dedication to community investment, bringing together Tribal leadership, local youth organizations, and University of Arizona student-athletes in service of Southern Arizona's next generation.