Sweet Home Emergency Ministries was one of 40 organizations that received a share of $167,965 in charitable gifts donated by the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund earlier this month. SHEM received $5,000, which will be used for the purchase of a commercial refrigerator for the organization’s pantry.
Checks were presented at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City.
They included $25,000 to the Siletz Booster Club to help replace the field lights at Siletz Valley School; $5,000 to the Hallie Ford Museum at Willamette University in Salem for The Art of Ceremony: Regalia in Native Oregon exhibit; and $5,000 to Operation Homefront Oregon in Monmouth for backpacks filled with school supplies, gift box program, and blankets for soldiers program.
The tribe has distributed more than $6.4 million through the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and other tribal resources.
Chinook Winds has donated more than $1.25 million in cash and fund-raising items since it opened in 1995. The casino also provides in-kind donations of convention space for various fund-raisers as well as technical support, advertising and manpower for many events.
Eligibility for donations is limited to entities and activities located in the Siletz Tribe’s 11-county service area (Lincoln, Tillamook, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties) and to Native American entities and activities located anywhere in the United States. The next deadline to submit applications is Sept. 19, 2008.
Applications and requirements can be obtained at http://www.ctsi.nsn.us/Charitable_Contributions.html; from Kelley Ellis at 800-922-1399, ext. 1227, or (541) 444-8227; or by mail at Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549.