The Greater Hermiston Community Foundation (GHCF) announced today it would award one area city and six local nonprofits grants ranging from $5,000 to $1,000 in 2021.
“Today is a special day for the foundation and all the donors who have contributed to the endowment fund,” said Greg Harris, president of the Greater Hermiston Community Foundation. “With their help, in just over three years, we are now able to assist many great projects in the greater Hermiston community.”
The GHCF established an endowment fund that does not allocate donations for grants, only the earnings from the contributions are made available, allowing gifts to the Foundation to go on into eternity, always giving back to the Community.
Grants include support for specific projects, as well as operating support, which allows nonprofits the ability to strengthen their capacity to serve clients in our communities.
Nonprofits and communities based in Hermiston and Echo received grants. They are:
- Domestic Violence Services; $1,600
- Cat Utopia, $1,000
- Good Shepherd Health Care System Emergency Department, $1,100
- Eastern Oregon Mission, $3,300
- City of Echo, $5,000
- Hermiston Senior Center, $2,000
- Trucare Pregnancy Resources, $1,000
Domestic Violence Services, Inc. (DHS) provides a shelter located in Hermiston to ensure safety for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. DHS received a grant to purchase two desktop computers for the Hermiston Advocacy Center.
Cat Utopia, Cat Utopia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing unwanted felines in Eastern Oregon through spay/neuter, adoption, and education. Cat Utopia is in the process of building the first low-cost spay neuter clinic in Eastern Oregon, which will significantly impact the region’s number of stray and reproducing cats. They received a grant to construct signage on Highway 395.
Good Shepherd Health Care System Emergency Department: The Emergency Department is working to provide the Hermiston area with increased access to mental health support. They received a grant to provide safe storage devices for at-risk youth displaying suicidal ideation, such as lockboxes for medications, ammunition, and firearms when they are discharged back into parental care.
Eastern Oregon Mission (EOM) supports Agape House, a nonprofit food bank founded in 1986 that serves the needs of vulnerable and marginalized residents and families of the greater Hermiston area. EOM received a grant to purchase and replace the front gate at Agape House.
The city of Echo is working to build a structure and reader board to increases awareness of activities and programs in the community. GHCF renewed the city’s 2020 grant for $2,500 and awarded an additional $5,000 for a total of $7,500 towards the completion of the new sign.
Hermiston Senior Center, which served in-house lunches five days a week before the pandemic, now provides meals twice a week by pick-up or delivery. The senior center received a grant to assist in purchasing meal containers to ensure area seniors are getting nutritious and well-balanced meals twice per week.
Trucare Pregnancy Resource Center creates a culture of life in the greater Hermiston area with a desire to see every woman, family, and community thrive through the medical, educational, and supportive care they provide. Trucare received a grant to purchase supplies needed to run and maintain their ultrasound machine.
GHCF is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) public charity that enables people to make donations to the Foundation for community enhancement. The Greater Hermiston Community Foundation (GHCF) increases exposure and opportunities for philanthropy throughout the greater Hermiston geographical region.
For more information related to the Greater Hermiston Community Foundation, including donation options, please visit www.GreaterHermiston.com.
