FLORENCE, OR – Three Rivers Foundation, established by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians as the charitable arm of the Three Rivers Casino Resort, has announced donations of over $720,000 to support the missions of 95 non-profit organizations across Oregon. The Three Rivers Foundation distributed funds to a diverse range of non-profits in sectors ranging from healthcare and education to combating food insecurities and enriching the lives of children.
“It makes my heart feel good,” said Chief Doug Barrett, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. “It’s just awesome that we can help these folks make an impact on their organizations and their communities.”
Non-profits in Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Harney, and Multnomah counties were awarded funding. Each received between $5,000 and $40,000 to continue providing services for Oregonians.
“We provide peer support services for new, expectant and grieving families or anything that a family might need to heal and recover from postpartum depression, loss of their pregnancy or infant and infertility,” said Lyndsie Leech, WellMama Executive Director. “This grant is particularly meaningful for us because we are trying to expand these services into some of the more rural areas. We recognize that the more isolated you are, the more you need those in-person services.”
“We got a $10,000 check for our natural resource program at Siuslaw High School for drones,” said Amy Tregoning, Siuslaw High School teacher. “We are teaching kids how to use them because they are being used increasingly in the natural resource field – think wildfires and population densities. We hope to train our students and get them to take their pilot’s license before they leave high school so that they can start a career a bit further ahead of everyone else.”
“It’s massive – the amount that Three Rivers Foundation can contribute to everyone in the local community is immense,” said Stephen Beale, Florence Food Share Operations Manager. “We couldn’t get nearly as much done as we have without these types of contributions.”
The Florence Food Share was granted $10,000. “One in two families can’t afford enough to keep their baby clean, dry, and healthy. There is no state or governmental assistance for diaper support, so $10,000 goes a long way in our small non-profit,” said Teresa Baur, Lane County Diaper Bank Founder.
All organizations gathered for a luncheon at Three Rivers Casino in Florence, where they were awarded their grants.
The North Bend Police Department was a first-time grant recipient. “We are purchasing individual first aid kits for any type of emergency, anywhere from a traumatic crash or active shooter,” said Captain Ed Perry, North Bend Police Department. “It’s going to get them prepared now that we have the money from the foundation.”
“On our project, we are trying to expand our technology in our electives and social-emotional learning classes,” said Cece Howell, Business Manager at Siuslaw School District. “This grant will go to our podcasting team.”
The foundation requests applications at the beginning of each year and will continue to award impactful grants each year.
