July 16, 2020 10:00 a.m. 

The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation has awarded $329,300 to 59 non-profit organizations around southwestern Oregon.

For the first time, no grant awards ceremony was held, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foundation Executive Director Carma Mornarich said while everyone is focused on COVID-19, other concerns people face, like feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the unhoused, decreasing abuse, and supporting education, don’t end. She said the organizations receiving help, address those issues along with other needs.

Funds allocated to Douglas County groups totaled $35,000 and include:

*$7,500 to the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Myrtle Creek to support operational costs and the purchase of emergency food, along with utility and propane vouchers.

*$5,000 to Camp Millennium to support the costs of a virtual camp.

*$5,000 to Friends of Fords Pond to assist with construction costs of a portion of the ADA-accessible path around Ford’s Pond Community Park.

*$5,000 to the Glide Booster Club to assist in the completion of the athletic track renovation for the Glide School District.

*$5,000 to Umpqua Valley Habitat for Humanity to support a home repair program for low income homeowners.

*$3,000 to the Oakland School District to assist with the purchase of a pickup truck for the Oakland Agriculture Department and Oakland FFA.

*$2,500 to Douglas County Master Gardeners to purchase supplies for a new, more efficient, water wise irrigation system for the plant nursery.

*$2,000 to Canyonville City Friends of the Library to support the 2020 Summer Reading Program.

The CCUIF was founded in 1997 and to date has awarded over $19 million in grants to nonprofits in seven counties.

Foundation awards are made separately from and in addition to regular philanthropic decisions made by the Cow Creek Tribal Board.