February 21, 2023
Media Contact:
Shelby Erickson, Director of Human Resources
serickson@threeriverscasino.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Three Rivers Foundation Awards $1.1 Million To More
Than 100 Oregon Nonprofits
Florence, Ore. — The Three Rivers Foundation, established by the Confederated Tribes of Coos,
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians as the charitable arm of its Three Rivers Casino Resort,
awarded $1.1 million in funding to 117 organizations in Oregon.
Three Rivers Foundation is honored to impact the missions of these nonprofit organizations.
With almost ten thousand nonprofits operating in Oregon, funding is crucial. The Foundation
received a major increase in applications this year, allowing it to grant 62 nonprofits first-time
grant funding.
“It makes my heart feel good,” said Doug Barrett, Tribal Council member. “It feels good getting
to see what these organizations are doing with the money, whether it be the food banks, helping
the youth through their struggles, whatever the money goes, it is pretty awesome.”
The Three Rivers Foundation supports innovative ideas, collaborative approaches and grassroots
efforts in education, health, public safety, problem gambling, the arts, the environment, cultural
activities and historic preservation.
Several members of the Tribal Council were present at a February 16 luncheon at the Florence
Casino held to honor the grant recipients.
“When I have a rough time throughout the year, “I think of today as a positive energy that’s
going on in this room, helping the community, bringing the community together, and
strengthening it. What a positive thing to do,” said Chief Doc Slyter, Confederated Tribes of
Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
The Cascades Raptor Center was one of the 117 nonprofits to receive funding. The Foundation
awarded the popular center $10,000 to expand its educational programming.
“Now we will be able to serve more communities, rural communities who don’t have the means
to rent buses or make it to the raptor center for education,” said Jennifer Monegan, Senior
Development Officer Cascades Raptor Center. “It’s such an incredible gift to the community
from the Three Rivers Foundation.”
Children’s Repertory Of Oregon Workshops (C.R.O.W.) received $21,000. It will use the
funding to support its main stage musical, The SpongeBob Musical.
“It’s amazing, and we are so grateful for the funding,” said Melanie Heard, founder of C.R.O.W.
“The Three Rivers Foundation is incredible! They do so much for the community; every need
has been met and is truly touching. The arts are really important, and it was very special that the
Three Rivers Foundation recognized that.”
Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County received $25,000. It plans on using the grant to
fund its outside healthy habitat for its kids and teens to use in the cold and rainy winter and
spring months. “There’s a lot of rain here and our kids are stuck inside a lot and so we don’t have
gym space at our facility or anywhere close by that they can go, ” said Vanessa Buss, CEO of the
Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County. “We’re so very grateful that we have Three
Rivers Casino here in Florence to help support the work that we do as a community.”
Counties that received grant money are as follows. See the excel spreadsheet for exact totals.
· Coos – 21
· Curry – 4
· Douglas – 15
· Lane – 72
· Lincoln – 2
· Other areas – 3
About the Three Rivers Casino Resort
Owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw
Indians, Three Rivers Casino Resort has strong ties to the surrounding community along the
Central Oregon Coast. As one of the largest employers in the area, Three Rivers provides
resources and opportunities for both tribal and non-tribal members of the region. In addition to
providing local jobs, Three Rivers sponsors local arts programs for both professional and
children’s theater and donates to dozens of local and regional nonprofit organizations. It has
become a pillar of community support; the philanthropic spirit of Three Rivers Casino is felt
deeply on the Central Oregon Coast and statewide. For more information, visit
About the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians are made up of 3 tribes
(4 Bands): 2 bands of Coos Tribes: Hanis Coos (Coos Proper), Miluk Coos; Lower Umpqua Tribe; and Siuslaw Tribe. The tribes trace their ancestry back to the aboriginal inhabitants of the
South-Central coast of Oregon. For more information, visit ctclusi.org.
