The Wildhorse Foundation, a community benefit fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to support organizations in Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington, has announced the awards for the second quarter of 2017.
A total of $193,393.25 was awarded to 24 recipients, bringing the total for 2017 to almost $458,000.
CTUIR has a long history of charitable giving. 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 State (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 1,800 local and regional non-profits have benefited from over the $10.8 million given by the Foundation since its inception. In 2016, over $886,000 was distributed to 153 organizations in the Foundation’s giving area.
A number of large grants were given this quarter. AC Houghton Elementary in Irrigon was granted $20,000 to purchase a new play structure and safety/fall material to go around the structure. According to the application, the current playground structure is unsafe and needed to be removed from the property. The playground also serves the community of Irrigon after school and during the summer.
The Kirkman House in Walla Walla also received the maximum grant of $20,000. The Kirkman House Museum was completed in 1880 and is the only brick Italianate style Victorian House in the Walla Walla Valley. With the exception of the NE corner of the house the foundation of the Kirkman House Museum is composed of unreinforced masonry. The bricks are soft and the mortar is crumbling. The grant funding is to be used toward the replacement and strengthening of the foundation.
The third $20,000 grant of the quarter was awarded to the Morrow County Health District, to expand the existing Irrigon Medical Clinic. A 2,100 square foot addition to the clinic will include additional exam rooms, providers offices, an expanded waiting room, business office and meeting room space. The Irrigon Medical Clinic has currently reached its capacity and is unable to serve many patients in need. This expansion will allow the Health District to provide needed services to Irrigon and North Morrow County residents.
