The Wildhorse Foundation announced that 33 organizations have received grants totaling more than $191,000 during the first quarter of 2015.
The recipients were announced during the foundation’s annual Recipients Luncheon recently at Wildhorse Resort and Casino. The event also served to honor more than 150 grant recipients from 2014.
Wildhorse Foundation Chairperson Kathleen Peterson presented details on funding for the last year. The Wildhorse Foundation awards grants to applicants that cover the areas of public health and safety, education, the arts, historic preservation, gambling addiction services, salmon restoration, environmental protection, and cultural activities. A heavy emphasis of the giving fell under the Public Safety category followed by Education, Public Health and Historic Preservation.
More than 1,400 local and regional non-profits have benefited from over the $8.47 million given by the foundation since its inception in 2001. In 2014, almost $950,000 was distributed to 156 organizations in the Foundation’s giving area which includes Umatilla, Union, Morrow and Wallowa counties in Oregon; Benton, Columbia and Walla Walla counties in Washington and National Indian Organizations.
During the luncheon, a Pendleton Wool Blanket was presented to Patricia Hall in appreciation for her service on the Wildhorse Foundation Board of Directors.
The foundation also spoke about changes to their application process. With each application, the Wildhorse Foundation is requiring a W9. Additionally, now only one copy of a grant is required to be submitted instead of one original and five copies.
Following the lunch, the Foundation Board consisting of Chairperson Peterson, Vice-Chairman Phil Houk, Secretary/Treasurer George Murdock, Woodrow Star and Debra Croswell, met to discuss the 2015 first quarter grant applicants. A total of $191,971.17 was awarded to 33 organizations.
