Nearly $1 Million in Grants Awarded by Cow Creek Foundation to Non-Profits
The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation (CCUIF) awarded nearly $1 million in grants to more than 80 non-profit organizations in southwestern Oregon Thursday – the most ever issued by the foundation in 25 years of philanthropic giving.
The CCUIF issued individual grants of mostly between $5,000 and $15,000 to non-profit organizations from Coos, Douglas, Deschutes, Lane, Klamath, Jackson and Josephine counties. The total amount of giving was $928,991.
“We have a lot of money to give away today,” laughed Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Director Carma Mornarich to a loud round of applause from organizers and non-profit directors who gathered at Seven Feathers Casino Resort for the awards ceremony.
The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation celebrates and awards organizations that carry out the work of supporting communities, assisting with substance abuse, providing for hungry families, uplifting children in need, and more.
“Over 25 years, non-profits in Southern Oregon and the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation have partnered together to provide over $23 million dollars in support to others,” said Cow Creek Umpqua Chairman Carla Keene in remarks before the ceremony began. “Think of all the incredible projects and critical community needs that local non-profit organizations have accomplished with those resources.”
Jericho Road of Deschutes County was one of the 85 recipients awarded. They received $10,000 toward their food program that offers free, hot meals to the homeless and hungry in Redmond.
“We really appreciate the support, it’s going to make our jobs a lot easier,” their representative said. “We are a total volunteer non-profit.”
Lane County Diaper Bank received $15,000 to ensure that the youngest residents of Lane County are loved, cared for, and provided for.
“We provide free diapers to families in need. Thanks to Cow Creek, we’ve been able to open a new distribution center,” said their representative.
Saint Vincent De Paul Rogue Valley District Council received $15,000.
“Thanks to the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for this very generous grant. This will help to provide services to those in need in a variety of ways, and every penny of this check will go toward its stated purpose,” said their representative.
The Salvation Army of Grants Pass received $10,000 to provide food, clothing and utilities for families in need in Josephine County.
“Thank you so very much for this check, it’s truly going to make a difference in the lives of families struggling every day to pay their rent or feed their children. In four days last week we served 457 people who came in for assistance,” their representative said.
“The mission of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is we help one another, we support one another, we share what we have and we give to others. There is no ‘them’ and ‘us,’ it’s just us,” said Mornarich.
The mission is also to offer assistance in youth education, strengthen youth and family, provide for positive youth development, and add to the quality of life for people in southwestern Oregon. Increasing emphasis upon basic needs and feeding hungry people has been part of the CCUIF mission in recent years. Award are made semi-annually in January and June.
The 85 grantees for this round of giving include:
- one grantee from Coos County who will receive $10,000
- 16 grantees from Deschutes County who will receive $171,500
- 14 grantees from Douglas County who will receive $140,446
- 12 grantees from Jackson County who will receive $139,700
- four grantees from Josephine County who will receive $35,000
- six grantees from Klamath County who will receive $73,000
- 16 grantees from Lane County who will receive $185,205
- 16 grantees that serve multiple counties who will receive $174,140
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians has a long tradition of giving back to communities where the Tribe lives and works. Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation awards are made separately from and in addition to regular philanthropic decisions made by the Cow Creek Tribal Board.
