The Wildhorse Foundation announced grant recipients for the second quarter of 2016. A total of $214,240 was awarded to 31 recipients, bringing the total for 2016 to almost $410,450.
The foundation is a community benefit fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to support organizations in Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington.
A number of large grants were given this quarter. Tamastslikt Cultural Institute was granted $20,000 for an HVAC upgrade which is necessary in order for the museum to operate and maintain their exhibits in a controlled environment.
Other large grants included $10,000 to the City of Milton-Freewater for Communication Consoles for the Police Department, $12,500 to Community Connection of NE Oregon for improvements to the roof at the RAC building, $10,000 to the Elgin Food Bank for environmental controls, $10,000 to the Joseph Library as a challenge grant toward the construction of a new library, $10,000 to the Pendleton School District for Special Education sensory equipment, $10,000 to Walla Walla Crime Watch for Force Science Training and $10,000 for the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Foundation for new communication equipment for First Responders.
While the Foundation was formed in 2001, changes to the compact that Wildhorse Resort & Casino made with the State of Oregon expanded their footprint in 2009. Prior to then, the Foundation could disburse grants to Umatilla, Morrow, Union and Wallowa Counties; they can now also allocate funding to government bodies or charitable organizations in the Tribes ceded territory in Washington sState (Benton, Walla Walla and Columbia Counties) as well as any Native American Tribal Government Agency or non-profit with its principal office and base of operation within the State of Oregon and any national or regional Indian Organization.
The Wildhorse Foundation will consider awarding grants to applications that cover the areas of public health and safety, education, the arts, historic preservation, gambling addiction services, salmon restoration, environmental protection, and cultural activities.
Over 1,500 local and regional non-profits have benefited from over the $9.7 million given by the Foundation since its inception. In 2015, over $810,000 was distributed to 132 organizations in the Foundation’s giving area.
