Cherokee Preservation Foundation Grant Will Support Development of a Graham County Youth Council

CHEROKEE, NC, October 21, 2008 – Cherokee Preservation Foundation announced it has made a nearly $20,000 grant to support the creation and development of a Graham County youth council, to be known as Knights of the Round Table (KORT). KORT has six initial members and is open to Graham County middle and high school students who want to develop their leadership skills and be engaged in community issues.

Graham County youth learned about the concept of a youth council when they became involved in recycling projects led by Cherokee Youth Council, a group that gives young enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians the opportunity to make their voices heard on issues that are important to them, serve their community and develop their leadership skills. The Cherokee Youth Council is driving recycling on the Qualla Boundary and is engaged in other projects to make the Qualla Boundary green.

After Graham County youth expressed an interest in formed a council that would give them a voice and presence in their county, a grassroots effort took shape to establish the Knights of the Roundtable.  KORT will partner with the Graham County Cooperative Extension Service, Robbinsville High School, Cherokee Reservation and Swain County 4H Youth Development, Cherokee Youth Council and other community youth organizations. 

For more information about KORT, interested youth should call Teresa Garland of the Graham County Cooperative Extension Service at 479-7979.

About Cherokee Preservation Foundation

Cherokee Preservation Foundation (www.cpfdn.org) 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 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 CPFdn’s inception in 2000, it has made 487 grants totaling nearly $40 million to EBCI and regional projects and programs that address cultural preservation, economic development and job creation, and environmental renewal and protection. Every dollar of CPFdn support has been matched by $1.41 in secured grants or other funding or in-kind resources, making CPFdn’s total contribution to the region more than $95 million.

For more information, contact Cherokee Preservation Foundation at 828/497-5550.