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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2020)
8 AUGUST 15, 2020 Smoke Signals Focus to be on struggling communities GRANTS continued from front page Oregon funders that positively impacted hundreds of nonprofits across Oregon.” Cherry said that in challenging times of uncertainty, it was grat- ifying to see people come together to serve nonprofits, both financially and relationally. “We are so very thankful and grateful to the myriad volunteers and providers who work tirelessly to address the needs of our commu- nity,” she said. In total, the Community Fund distributed $300,090 in grants to 21 nonprofits for the third quarter, which brought total giving in the last 23 years to $84.5 million. The number of grants awarded since 1997 increased to 2,885. Grants have been distributed to 1,188 nonprofit organizations in 11 northwest Oregon counties for the purposes of education, health, arts and culture, environment, historic preservation, public safety and problem gaming, and to the nine federally recognized Tribes in Ore- gon under a Tribal Grants program. Due to the pandemic, the in-per- son check presentation ceremony on the Tribal campus has been can- celed until further notice. However, Cherry is confident that the giving will continue, although 2021 may look different due to Spirit Moun- tain Casino being closed for 74 days this year. The casino sets aside a portion of its annual earnings for charitable donations through the Community Fund. “While we know our funding will be impacted next year due to the casino closure for three months, our Board of Trustees and staff are committed to continuing to honor our Native tradition of potlatch,” Cherry said. “We will listen, learn and connect with leaders and non- profits throughout the state to en- sure we are doing our best to serve our nonprofit partners while we continue navigating these unchar- tered waters.” Going forward, the focus of the Community Fund and its board will be on marginalized communities that already faced struggles and lacked access to services before the pandemic hit. “While it is critical that we con- tinue to provide support to non- profits that are responding to the challenges created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, we know the emphasis on low-income com- munities, rural communities and communities of color who are dis- proportionately impacted will be a priority for our board,” Cherry said. Large grant recipients are: • The Wetlands Conservancy of Portland, $24,940, for its “Beaver Survey and Restoration: Central Coast Estuaries” project. • Chess for Success of Portland, $25,000, for “Rural and Oregon Youth Authority Chess Clubs.” • Polk County Family & Commu- nity Outreach of Dallas, $45,000, for “Connecting Youth to Suicide Prevention Efforts Across the Region” project. • Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. of Portland, $45,000, for a rural pre-apprenticeship expansion. • Portland Street Medicine, $45,000, to build staff capacity for coordinated street medicine outreach. • Airway Science for Kids of Port- land, $25,000, for its “Flaps Barry Drone Program Expansion Proj- ect.” • Youth Rights & Justice of Port- land, $15,000, for “Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Juvenile Justice System Involved Youth.” • Boys & Girls Club of Albany, $25,000, for its “Promoting Re- siliency, Optimal Mindsets and Incorporating Social Emotional Skills for Youth impacted by ACES” program. Small grant recipients are: • Willamette Valley Hospice of Salem, $4,000, for “Easing the Dying Process: Music Therapy Program Expansion.” • Bags of Love of Eugene, $4,000, for its “2020 Backpack Block Party” school supply distribution program. • South Benton County Gleaners of Monroe, $2,000, for “Food Insecu- rity/Help Fight to End Hunger” program. • Yamhill County Treatment Courts Foundation of McMinn- ville, $4,000, for its “Self-Suffi- cient by 2021” program. • Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus of Portland, $3,150, for its “Emer- gency Client Assistance Program Expansion.” • Sauvie Island Center of Portland, $4,000, for its “Returning to First Foods: An Educational Journey for Grade Schools” program. • Habitat For Humanity Interna- tional of Junction City, $4,000, for its “Critical Repair Program.” Rapid Response grants are: • Mid-Willamette Family YMCA Inc. of Albany, $5,000, for its emergency child care service. • Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, $5,000, for its emergency child care service. • Northwest Housing Alternatives Inc. of Milwaukie, $5,000, for its “Serving the Homeless” program. • American Legion Charities Inc. of Albany, $5,000, for veterans’ services. • Our House of Portland Inc., $2,500, for staffing and operating costs. • Childswork Learning Center of Portland, $2,500, for staff fund- ing. TERO Workers of the Month June 2020 Name: Kevin Dunn Employer: Brix Paving Inc. Positon: Laborer Kevin first applied for the TERO Skills Bank in 2015 and was dispatched to a project soon after. He shows great pride and honor in being a representative of the Grand Ronde TERO on any project he is on. Currently, Kevin is eagerly waiting on the opportunity to start an apprenticeship program with the IBEW (electrical workers union). Kevin Dunn Kevin was selected as the June TERO Worker of the Month due to his high level of dependability and reli- ability on any project he is dispatched to. “I was able to find stable, well-paying employment, so that I can build a new life after being in prison for five years,” he said. “TERO has worked with me closely to help me in finding a great job. I am so proud of having these guys in my corner. I am two and half years sober and as a direct result of the assistance from my Tribe I am learning to be successful. Thank you so much.” Nice job Kevin! July 2020 Name: Dennis Knight Jr. Employer: D&H Flagging Positon: Flagger Dennis first applied for the TERO Skills Bank in 2019. He took advantage of the training and certification opportunities TERO offers and was dispatched to his first project the same year. After completing his assignments at that project, Dennis signed up for a flagging certification class offered by the TERO program. Upon gaining his flagging certification, Dennis took the Dennis Knight Jr. initiative and inquired about employment with a flagging contractor on his own accord. Dennis was selected as the July TERO Worker of the Month due to his motivation and drive to find work and be a reliable resource for his employer. “I am thankful and blessed to have the TERO program,” he said. “It was there for me in a time of need and has helped me gain employment and put me on the path to success.” Way to go Dennis! Previous TERO workers of the Month in 2020 include: January: Matt Lux February: Richard Navarez March: Russ Leno April: Dakota Rock May: Jerry Yanez