CHEROKEE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION LAUNCHES WEB SITE TO FOSTER REGIONAL COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

CHEROKEE, NC, May 1, 2003—The Cherokee Preservation Foundation announced the launch today of its new web site at www.cherokeepreservationfdn.org. The content of the site demonstrates the multiple roles of the Foundation as funder, convener and partnership developer so more resources will flow into Western North Carolina.

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and strengthen the Western North Carolina region. Features of its new web site include:

• A searchable grantee database that will make it easy for prospective grantees to learn about projects that have secured Foundation funding and to identify potential partners for new projects.
• Stories about what Cherokee Preservation grantees are doing to improve their communities.
• Information about how to apply for grants, including downloadable applications in Word and PDF formats.
• Resources that will help prospective and current grantees learn about:
  • Other funding sources,
  • How to get youth involved in community efforts,
  • How to enhance their leadership skills,
  • How to build communities through public dialogue and involvement, as well as collaboration, and
  • Cherokee history and culture.
• Foundation news and events of interest to the community.

“The new Cherokee Preservation Foundation web site is an important element of our work to bring people and other resources together to address EBCI and regional challenges and opportunities,” said Susan Jenkins, Executive Director. “The site has a great deal of information that we think will be very helpful to people throughout the seven-county region we serve. We invite our neighbors to make good use of the new information resource.”

About the Cherokee Preservation Foundation

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation was established on November 14, 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 non-profit foundation funded by the EBCI from gaming revenues generated by the tribe. The Cherokee Preservation Foundation is not part of or associated with any for-profit gaming entity.