PENDLETON, OR – The Wildhorse Foundation, a community fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), announced their grant awards for the third quarter of 2022.
This quarter, 16 organizations received grants ranging from $3,750 to $20,000 for projects in the areas of public health, public safety, arts, education, and cultural activities.
“Despite seeing a drastic reduction in the number of applications we’ve been receiving, we will still manage to award over $1 million again this year,” said Mary Liberty-Traughber, Foundation Administrator. Since 2019, the Wildhorse Foundation has seen grant applications drop to less than half, but 2023 grants already total over $980,000 for the first three quarters.
“We’d really like to see a larger number of applications each quarter,” said Liberty-Traughber. “We’d also like to see applicants who’ve never applied before.”
Established in 2001, the Wildhorse Foundation has, in total, awarded over $18 million in grant funding to eligible government, tribal and non-profit organizations.
Organizations receiving grants include:
| Organization Name | Project | Org. Location | Award |
| Athena’s Gem, Inc. | Gem Theatre Occupancy | Athena, OR | $ 8,660 |
| Chief Joseph Days Rodeo | Finish Ceiling/Electrical in Thunder Room | Joseph, OR | $ 20,000 |
| Color Outside the Lines | Art Outreach to Foster Kids/Native Youth | Portland, OR | $ 7,000 |
| Columbia Basin College Foundation | Food Pantry for Richland Campus | Pasco, WA | $ 3,750 |
| Edith Bishel Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired | Aid to Low Income Blind/Visually Impaired | Kennewick, WA | $ 5,000 |
| Fundamental Needs Inc | Oasis Project – Clean Water Systems | Dolores, CO | $ 20,000 |
| Neighbor 2 Neighbor Pendleton, Inc. | Winter Shelter for Homeless | Pendleton, OR | $ 20,000 |
| North Powder Rural Fire Protection District | Equipment for Response to Remote Locations | North Powder, OR | $ 19,813 |
| Oregon TRIO Association | Tech Resources for TRIO Students in Need | Astoria, OR | $ 5,000 |
| Pilot Rock School District | District-wide Music Program Expansion | Pilot Rock, OR | $ 20,000 |
| Skyline Adventures | Adaptive Skiing for Disable Veterans | Dayton, WA | $ 7,700 |
| The STAR Project | HOOP – Transitional Program | Walla Walla, WA | $ 20,000 |
| Umatilla County Historical Society | Heritage Station Museum Lobby Remodel | Pendleton, OR | $ 20,000 |
| Union County Fair Association | Furniture for Community Building | La Grande, OR | $ 20,000 |
| Valley Residential Services | Disabled Adult Home Repair | Walla Walla, WA | $ 20,000 |
| Wallowa School District | Restoration Following Historic Hail Storm | Wallowa, OR | $ 20,000 |
| Total | $236,923 |
The Wildhorse Foundation was established on January 1, 2001 for the purpose of formalizing charitable giving on behalf of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Funds from the Wildhorse Foundation are used for education, public health, public safety, gambling addiction prevention, the arts, environmental protection, cultural activities, salmon restoration, and historic preservation. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis with deadlines being January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.