Coquille Tribal Community Fund Announces Grant REcipients
35 Area Organizations to Benefit from Grant Funding

North Bend, OR – The Coquille Tribal Community Fund, a foundation established by the Coquille Indian Tribe to support nonprofit organizations in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson and Lane counties, released today their grant making decisions for the year. A total of 35 organizations will share in grant funding totaling $210,281.

"This year's decisions were particularly difficult, given both the volume of inquiries and the merit of all the organizations that applied," commented Board of Trustees Chairperson Michele Burnette. "We certainly encourage all groups whose projects are in line with the Fund's priorities and goals to apply during our next grant making cycle, and we congratulate this year's recipients."

Grants to the following organizations were presented at an awards luncheon February 27th:

• A.D.A.P.T.- to purchase a laptop computer
• Bandon Library Development Foundation - toward completion of new building
• Bay Area Rotary Club of Coos Bay/North Bend - toward the "Shots for Tiny Tots" program
• Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County - to assist in funding Camp Discovery
• Bree's Foundation - to fund a quarterly breast health newsletter
• Building on Strength; Coos County Kids - for increased costs of food and childcare for Positive Parenting Workshops
• CASA of Coos County - to increase the number of trained volunteers
• Clyde Allen Baseball Park Committee - to make improvements to the Clyde Allen Baseball Park
• Confederated Tribes of the Lower Rogue Language Project - for a two-week Tutudineh Language Workshop
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service - to provide personal financial counseling to low income individuals
• Coos County Children's Advocacy Center - to purchase a forensic light source
• Coos County Fairgrounds - to help renovate the "4-H Building" at the Fairgrounds
• Coos County Search & Rescue - to provide government-required equipment for volunteers
• Coos Elderly Services - to supplement financial services for low income individuals
• Coquille Mat Devils - to purchase uniforms
• Ecumenical Emergency Food Cupboard - to sustain food purchases for needy individuals and families
• Florence Food Share - for food for low income individuals and families of Lane County
• Friends of Coos Bay Iron Works - toward the preservation of the historical documents and site
• Glendale, City of - to rebuild the bridge between the ballpark and playground
• Gold Beach Child Care Association - for computers and educational software
• Human Rights Advocates of Coos County - toward the Safe Schools Project
• Mohawk Watershed Partnership - to purchase a new colorimeter for the Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Music on the Bay - for additional seating at Mingus Park Amphitheater
• Myrtle Point High School - to purchase weight room equipment
• Neighbor to Neighbor - to increase the capacity of conflict management skill building workshops
• Powers Rural Volunteer Fire Department - to provide firefighting and personal protective equipment
• Reedsport Taskforce on Alcohol, Drugs & Youth - to participate in the Missoula Children's Theatre
• Shorebank Enterprise Pacific - toward a loan program for refurbishing North Bend storefronts
• South Coast Hospice - to provide bereavement workshops
• Start Making a Reader Today (S.M.A.R.T.) - toward SMART giveaway books
• South Coast Food Share - to help increase the local food supply
• Tsalila Partnership - to fund Fall Education Days for second to fifth graders
• Waterfall Clinic - to purchase furniture
• Women's Safety & Resource Center - to fund evening domestic violence sessions
• Zonta Service Foundation - for supplies for school children

The funding priorities of the Coquille Tribal Community Fund include Education, Health, Public Safety, Problem Gaming, Environmental Issues, Arts & Culture and Historic Preservation. Monies for the Fund are derived as a percentage of revenues from The Mill Casino • Hotel. The CTCF Board of Trustees consists of community leaders, Tribal and CEDCO representatives.

Information packets for the Coquille Tribal Community Fund are available by contacting the Fund Administrator at communityfund@themillcasino.com, or by phone at 541.756.8800 or 800.953.4800, extension 515. A detailed letter of inquiry is required before a qualified agency is invited to submit a complete application, so applicants are urged to act promptly to allow themselves sufficient time for proposal preparation. In order to allow Trustees additional proposal review time, the deadline for grant applications has been moved forward to August 31, 2004; with 2004 grant awards to be announced early in 2005.

The Coquille Tribal Community Fund reflects the commitment of the Coquille Indian Tribe to take a proactive, positive role in the well-being of the community. Collectively, the Tribe is the second-largest employer in Coos County, Oregon, managing not only The Mill Casino • Hotel but also business ventures in assisted living, organic cranberry farming and telecommunications.