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The Roseburg News Review--January 10, 2007
The Cow Creek Foundation distributed a total of $591,744 to fifty-five social service organizations at the latest semi-annual Foundation grant distribution ceremony.
The first recipient of the Marty Young Memorial Award was the Roseburg Family Development Center.
The Cow Creek Foundation created a special award to honor Marty Young, a longtime community activist and the founding director of the Foundation who died recently from cancer.
By Erik Skoog
Fifty-five organizations from seven counties graciously received grants during the semiannual Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation grant ceremony held at Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort Tuesday.
The foundation distributed a total of $591,744 to the organizations.
Of that, $178,860 went to nonprofit organizations and schools located in Douglas County.
"This is the first meeting for awards that we have had since the loss of our founding director, Marty Young," said Sue Shaffer, chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
Martha "Marty" Young died in October after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Marty had been a longtime community activist and most recently headed the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, which named an award in her honor.
The first recipient of that award was the Family Development Center in Roseburg.
"Marty was that special leader that always had in her heart the welfare and the promotion of things that would bring a better life to children," Shaffer said.
Charlene Paramo, executive director of the center, accepted the plaque and $20,000, which will be used to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
"This is such an honor to be the first recipient of the award in honor of Marty," Paramo said, standing with other members of the organization.
Foundation board member Norm Gershon, who served as the master of ceremonies during the event, lightened the mood by introducing four Latin dancers of the Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre from the Medford-based Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon, which received $5,000 toward the dance program.
"We do like to dabble in the arts a little bit to show how sophisticated we are," Gershon said, rewarded with laughter from the audience.
The dancers sent their brightly colored dresses twirling through the air while they stomped out thunder on the specially constructed dance floor — all to the lively beat of music from south of the border.
Award recipients in Douglas County
The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation awarded $178,860 in grants Tuesday to schools and organizations within Douglas County. Recipients were:
- Casa de Belen — $14,630 for nighttime security staff
- Days Creek School District Charter School— $3,990 for 10 new sewing machines
- Family Development Center — $20,000 for abuse prevention services in south Douglas County
- The FISH of Roseburg — $20,000 for a walk-in cooler and equipment for its new facility
- Project Literacy of Douglas County — $16,240 for a computer literary coordinator
- Riddle Education Center Public Charter School — $9,500 to enhance student retention
- Wildlife Safari — $20,000 for playground structures
- Senior Volunteer Foundation of Douglas County — $5,000 for volunteer support
- St. Joseph's Community Kitchen — $7,500 for meals
- City of Sutherlin — $20,000 to fund new children's library
- Umpqua Community Action Network Case Management Housing and Support Systems — $10,000 for playground equipment at Mariposa Villa
- Umpqua Community Action Network Transitions Program — $15,000 for Confidence Clinic
- Umpqua Valley Arts Association — $7,500 for the arts integration program
- Winston Middle School — $9,500 for new wrestling mats
Other grant recipients, such as Ellie McCoy, a parent trainer for Family Friends from Josephine County, were emotional during their brief acceptance speeches. McCoy, accepting the $10,000 grant, said her students are parents referred to her by the Department of Human Services, and must undergo parent training classes as a result of drug or alcohol abuse.
"This grant money is going to be used ... for my graduates once their kids are returned to them, and to do parent-coaching home visits," McCoy said before she became tear-stricken while she walked off the stage.
The city of Sutherlin was awarded the Buss Rondeau Award and $20,000 to assist with construction for the new Sutherlin library.
Sutherlin was the home of Buster "Buss" Rondeau, an early member of the foundation's board, and "was a place that he dearly loved and honored," Shaffer said.
Mayor Joe Mongiovi accepted the award, flanked by librarian Nita Steiner and other city officials.
"The last time I talked to Sue Shaffer, we both had different colored hair," joked the silver-maned Mongiovi.
The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation awards grants to organizations in Douglas, Coos, Deschutes, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane counties.
Of the $7.5 million the foundation has granted in 18 rounds of charitable giving, $984,096 of that has been in Douglas County.
The foundation was formed in 1997, following a tribal-state compact that allowed Seven Feathers Casino to expand gaming operations in exchange for donations totaling 6 percent of net gaming revenues.
The grants are awarded twice yearly.