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Stacy D. Stumbo Roseburg News-Review - February 5, 2004
CANYONVILLE — Norm Gershon’s fingers got stiff after passing out checks worth more than $410,000 to 38 nonprofit groups dedicated to the welfare of children and families Wednesday morning.Gershon, president of Umpqua Training & Employment and former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s appointee to the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation board, doled out the grant money during the foundation’s autumn cycle of philanthropic giving at Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort.
The foundation gives awards twice annually. Last year, during the autumn cycle, the foundation gave $400,000.
The event marked the 12th round of grants awarded by the foundation, which was established by the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians in 1997. In that time, the foundation has awarded 383 grants totaling $4.2 million to nonprofit organizations in Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Deschutes, Lane and Coos counties.
After Gershon gave a $10,310 check to the Umpqua Valley disAbilities Network to fund informational puppet shows about tolerance, he quipped, “Maybe that’s what they should have put on at the half time show at the Super Bowl.”
The foundation, and the tribe, have tried to gear their awards toward wholesome programs and projects, in stark contrast with the antics of this year’s Super Bowl entertainers Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
As part of a casino compact made with the state, the tribe gives 6 percent of its annual revenue to charitable organizations. The foundation, which receives roughly 100 grant applications each year, tries to give grants that will aid in education, strengthen families, enhance youth programs and add to the quality of life in southwestern Oregon.
Sue Shaffer, chairwoman of the Cow Creek band, told the crowd of volunteers and nonprofit leaders that as a tribe “we measure success not in money. We are grateful for Seven Feathers, but the real successes are the things you’re doing to turn lives around.”
Shaffer and Polly Rondeau awarded the fifth annual Buss Rondeau Award to the Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center in Bend.
The organization provides a memorable healing experience to disabled, emotionally challenged or behaviorally at-risk children and disabled adults through physical, social and emotional interaction with horses and volunteers.
The center received $8,250 for scholarships for disabled students.
The late Wallace “Buster” Rondeau was a tribal board member and founding member of the foundation. Educated in Tiller, he was a millworker primarily in the Sutherlin area.
“Support for disabled students was very dear to Buster’s heart,” said Polly, his widow. “Buster felt that providing opportunities for positive youth development was essential, especially for those most disadvantaged.”
Shaffer choked back tears at the end of the event, saying that although the awards ceremony was “a joyous day here, it is also a sad day” because of the death of two longtime county residents — Richard Petterson and Harvey Ringen.
Petterson was a retired South Umpqua High School teacher and coach and a respected businessman. Ringen was a longtime employee of South Umpqua State Bank in Canyonville, now Umpqua Bank.
Several members of the foundation board were absent because they were attending Ringen’s memorial service, which occurred at the same time.
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation grant recipients based in Douglas County are:
Days Creek High School — $4,942 for technology assistance.
Lookingglass Elementary School — $10,000 for new playground.
Roseburg School District — $10,416 for elementary school library book collections.
Melrose Elementary School — $12,000 for preschool reading station.
Douglas Education Services District — $20,000 for technology tools for disabled students.
Glide High School — $15,000 to purchase land lab supplies for FFA program.
Altrusa Intentional — $1,000 to support Celebration of Literacy.
Umpqua Valley disAbilities Network — $10,310 for disability awareness puppet shows in schools
Riverside Center — $19,745 for facility flooring upgrade.
Central Douglas County YMCA — $5,000 for new childcare playground structure.
Options Counseling Services of Oregon — $6,411 for parenting program.
The Fish of Douglas County — $15,000 for emergency services program.
Umpqua Community Action Network Housing Program — $10,000 for playground equipment for housing for special needs families.
South Douglas County Food Bank — $20,000 for new facility.
Consumer Credit Counseling — $3,140 for money management classes.
St. Joseph’s Community Kitchen — $8,000 for hot meals program.
Epilepsy Foundation of Oregon — $4,961 for epilepsy awareness project in high schools.
Southwestern Oregon Community Action Committee Court Appointed Special Advocates — $20,000 for volunteer coordination.