Wildhorse Foundation awards grants to 30 organizations
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MISSION – (News release from the Wildhorse Foundation) The Wildhorse Foundation, a community fund managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in partnership with Wildhorse Resort & Casino, announced their grant awards for the second quarter of 2024.
A total of thirty organizations were awarded grants this period, in amounts ranging from $3,238 to $30,000, for projects in the areas of Public Health, Public Safety, Arts, Education, Environmental Protection, Historic Preservation, and Cultural Activities. This quarter marked a record for the total amount awarded in a single quarter by the Wildhorse Foundation, with that total being $506,758.
In addition to the quarterly grants, six organizations recently received Rapid Response grants in amounts of $1,500 or less. Rapid Response grants are intended for small and immediate needs that surface throughout the year, and funding decisions are made within 30 days from an application’s submission.
Each year, the Wildhorse Foundation makes grants to eligible nonprofit, government, and Tribal organizations within the homeland area of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people. Also eligible for funding are Tribal government agencies or Indian charitable organizations with their base of operations within Oregon, as well as national or regional Indian organizations.
The Wildhorse Foundation has awarded a total of over $18 million in grant funding since its establishment in 2001. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis with the deadlines being January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
The formation of the Wildhorse Foundation was for the purpose of formalizing the charitable giving on behalf of the CTUIR and Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Every step of the Foundation’s review and decision-making process is geared towards building strong communities and healthy families in our giving area.
Below is the list of organizations and the grant amount awarded to each for the second quarter of 2024:
| Organization | Org. Location | Project Name | Awarded |
| ALS Association of OR & SW Washington | Portland, OR | Northeast Oregon ALS Support Program | $ 5,000.00 |
| Athena-Weston School District | Athena, OR | Weston McEwen High School Science Lab | $ 20,000.00 |
| Big Bro Joe Foundation | Kennewick, WA | Transportation Needs and Community Involved Events/Activities for Youth | $ 21,000.00 |
| Blue Mountain Community Foundation | Walla Walla, WA | Walla Walla Public Schools Field Trips | $ 5,000.00 |
| Blue Mountains Conservancy | La Grande, OR | Yurt Nature Classroom for Heritage Pond Education Center | $ 12,000.00 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties | Prosser, WA | Life & Workforce Readiness | $ 7,500.00 |
| Chess for Success | Portland, OR | Chess for Success After School Programming in Umatilla County | $ 7,324.00 |
| Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc. | La Grande, OR | Union County Senior Center Parking Lot Safety Improvements | $ 30,000.00 |
| Community Resilience Initiative | Walla Walla, WA | ACT (Action Confronting Trauma) A Preventative Healing Program Through Education, Recreation, and Trauma Healing Engagement | $ 10,000.00 |
| Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts | Pendleton, OR | Traditional Arts Program Capacity Building | $ 18,000.00 |
| Eastern Oregon University Reading Clinic (College of Education) | La Grande, OR | Eastern Oregon Reading Clinic Tutoring Services | $ 25,220.00 |
| Intertribal Agriculture Council | Billings, MT | Oregon Native American Agriculture Virtual Fencing Pilot Project | $ 30,000.00 |
| Medical Springs Rural Fire Protection District | Baker City, OR | Brush Truck Skid Unit | $ 24,192.00 |
| New Directions Education Project | Pendleton, OR | Summer Classes for New Directions Education Project | $ 10,000.00 |
| North Powder Rural Fire Protection District | North Powder, OR | Fire Command Vehicle | $ 20,000.00 |
| Northwest American Indian Coalition | Brookings, OR | Traditional Arts and Regalia Program | $ 4,200.00 |
| Pendleton Early Learning Center | Pendleton, OR | PELC Library | $ 10,000.00 |
| Pendleton Ice Sports Booster Association | Pendleton, OR | Hockey Rink Dasher Boards | $ 30,000.00 |
| Rural Development Initiatives, Inc. | Coburg, OR | Gana, Ahorra, Invierte in Milton-Freewater | $ 21,630.00 |
| Salvation Army Pendleton Corps | Pendleton, OR | Free Hot Meal and Cold Water Project | $ 20,000.00 |
| Senior Life Resources Northwest, Inc | Richland, WA | MOW’s Commercial Dishwasher Project | $ 30,000.00 |
| Stanfield Public Library | Stanfield, OR | Start a Playaway/Wonderbook Collection & Add More Launchpads | $ 7,500.00 |
| The Kwek Society | Arlington, VA | Period Support for Indigenous Students and Communities | $ 15,000.00 |
| Umatilla County Public Health Department | Pendleton, OR | Hermiston High School Health Center Start Up | $ 30,000.00 |
| Union County Museum Society | Union, OR | Brick and Roof Repair of Historic Bank Building | $ 15,985.00 |
| Union County Search & Rescue | La Grande, OR | Multipurpose Operations Room Inside the Union County Search and Rescue building | $ 6,000.00 |
| Union County Sheriff’s Office | La Grande, OR | Union County Sheriff’s Office UAV/Drone Program | $ 14,409.00 |
| Union School District #5 | Union, OR | Tiny House Construction for Geometry in Construction Class | $ 30,000.00 |
| Walla Walla Gun Club Community Service Project (CSP) | Walla Walla, WA | .22 Caliber Rifles, Ammunition, and Gun Safe Storage Request | $ 3,238.00 |
| Wallowa County Justice Center | Enterprise, OR | Safety and Security Upgrade to the Wallowa County Justice Center | $ 23,560.00 |
| Total | $ 506,758.00 |
