Wildhorse Resort & Casino

Wildhorse Foundation nears $2 million giving mark

News Release
For more information: Charles Denight, 541-966-1973, charles.denight@wildhorseresort.com As the Wildhorse Foundation nears $2 million in giving since its beginning four years ago, history and culture got a boost from the latest round of funding, including grants to the Umatilla County Economic Development Department for informational kiosks in Umatilla and Morrow Counties, as well as to the Umatilla County Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Steering Committee to enable the publication of a book, “A Tradition of Hospitality”.

The $7,200 grant to the Lewis & Clark program followed a $10,000 grant in 2003 to the same organization. The nation’s four-year commemoration of the expedition’s bicentennial will wrap up this year in September, with a major event marking the 200th anniversary of the explorers return to St. Louis.

Other grants for the 4th quarter, 2005, ranged from $4,500 to the Joseph Volunteeer Fire Department to a $2,400 grant to the Umatilla County Reduce Adolescent Pregnancy Partnership. Total giving for the quarter was $131, 510.

Because the Wildhorse Foundation’s annual funding comes from a percentage of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino's net income, as the resort's business grows, so does the Foundation's annual grant total. In 2003 grants amounted to $469,994 in 59 grants. In 2004 total grants amounted to $502,990 in 77 grants while grants for 2005 totaled $507,188.42 to 85 organizations.

Many of the funded non-profits have a facility in only one county but serve people from throughout the region. The Foundation encourages applications from Morrow, Union, Umatilla and Wallowa Counties, according to Foundation Administrator, Michelle Liberty. The next deadline for applications is April 1. More information and online application forms are available at www.wildhorseresort.com.

Wildhorse Resort & Casino