Siletz Tribal Charitable Fund distributes $131,634 to 28 organizations

The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund distributed $131,634 to 28 organizations last week as part of its quarterly donations to nonprofit groups. Twelve of the groups – including YachatsNews – are from Lincoln County.

The largest grant — $20,000 – went to Oregon Coast Council for the Arts for acoustic upgrades and redesign of backstage areas of the Newport Performing Arts Center as part of the organization’s capital campaign to renovate the center. Two Waldport organizations received more than $9,900 each.

Grants to organizations in Lincoln County went to:

• Waldport Lions Club, Waldport: $10,000 for vision checks, glasses, vision surgeries, hearing aid checks and hearing aids;
• Central Coast Fire and Rescue District, Waldport: $9,952 for firefighting hoses as part of a program to have standardized equipment on each of its three main engines;
• Yachats News, Yachats: $1,873 for office rent, laptop and liability insurance;
• Neighbors for Kids, Depoe Bay: $6,000 for flooring, furniture, materials, supplies and equipment for its Teen Center;
• Bright Horizons Therapeutic Riding Center, Siletz: $5,000 for 100 hours of equine-assisted activities and therapy;
• The Arc of Benton County, Toledo: $594 for a portable wheelchair ramp, loom knitting machine, remote shutter button, magnifier and craft supplies;
• Newport High School’s Grad Night Committee: $750 for equipment rentals, venue and food for senior graduation night;
• Taft Tigers Boosters, Lincoln City: $2,190 for hot water heater, sink and cupboards for concession stand;
• Blodgett-Summit Rural Fire Protection District: $2,718 for two chainsaws, two extra chains and three battery-powered scene lights;
• East Lincoln County Emergency Responders, Toledo: $5,000 for curriculum to host emergency medical responder course for Lincoln County fire departments; and
• Siletz Valley Friends of the Library, Siletz: $1,443 for professional deep cleaning.

The tribe’s seven-member charitable fund advisory board has distributed more than $16.4 million since its inception in 2001. The next deadline to submit applications is March 1. Eligibility is limited to two categories — entities and activities located in the Siletz Tribe’s 11-county service area that includes Lincoln, Tillamook, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties; and Native American entities and activities located anywhere in the United States.