Cherokee Preservation Foundation Commits Resources to Recession Response Fund for Nonprofits in the Region

CHEROKEE, NC, April 29, 2009 – Cherokee Preservation Foundation (CPFdn) announced today it has provided funding to help regional nonprofits providing essential services meet the huge surge in need in our communities brought on by the recession. CPFdn has joined with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and a dozen other philanthropic organizations in the region, including several county community foundations and United Ways, to form the WNC Funders Collaboration to help nonprofits providing essential services. 

All across our region, there are longer lines at food pantries, a growing number of people who are unable to pay utility or medical bills, and a spike in foreclosures and domestic violence.  The CPFdn Board of Directors has approved a commitment of $50,000 for 11 nonprofit agencies in the neighboring seven-county region who are helping neighbors address their critical needs.

The nonprofits receiving grants in the range of $3,500 to $5,000 include Hurlbert-Johnson Friendship House, the Task Force on Family Violence in Cherokee County, the
Clay County Food Pantry, Swain Qualla SAFE, Hinton Rural Life Center, the Community Table, Mountain Youth Resources, REACH of Jackson County, REACH of Macon County, Family Resources of Cherokee County and the Salvation Army.

 “The Cherokee Preservation Foundation staff has been able to draw on our knowledge and expertise of the issues in our region and the nonprofits best positioned to have an immediate impact,” said Susan Jenkins, executive director of Cherokee Preservation Foundation.  “Our directors approved the grants, believing they are a good use of our resources so we can help our community and our neighbors during this difficult time.”

About Cherokee Preservation Foundation

Cherokee Preservation Foundation (www.cpfdn.org) was established in 2000 as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the EBCI and the State of North Carolina. It is an independent nonprofit foundation funded by the EBCI from gaming revenues generated by the Tribe. CPFdn is not part of or associated with any for-profit gaming entity. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has made 512 grants totaling nearly $43 million to EBCI and regional projects and programs that address cultural preservation, economic development and job creation, and environmental sustainability. Every dollar of CPFdn support has been matched by $1.83 in secured grants or other funding or in-kind resources, making CPFdn’s total contribution to the region more than $121 million.