The Rolling Hills Casino Community Development Foundation committee announced recipients of grants for the first quarter of 2015. The Foundation supports community development programs, with a primary focus on education.
Major grant recipients include the Tehama County Arts Council ($12,000), Tehama County Education Foundation ($6,000), Jackson Heights Elementary School ($3,000), Richfield School District, Shady Creek Outdoor Program ($2,500), Soroptimist International Bidwell Rancho ($2,500), Mercy High School ($2,000), Give Kids a Smile Day ($2,500), and Boulder Creek School’s Vigilente Kindness program ($1,250). Grants under $1,000 went to Red Bluff Rotary, Williams Booster Club, Corning Ducks Unlimited, Corning High Parents Club for Sober Grad Night, and Williams High Sober Grad. The Foundation also donated numerous raffle prizes to local organizations.
“We are very proud to fund programs that contribute to the vitality and viability of our local communities,” said Andy Freeman, Chairman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owner of the Rolling Hills Casino & Resort. “These grants benefit our entire community by encouraging continued learning opportunities, higher education, and economic development.”
“A highly educated community has more opportunities for economic growth,” said Natasha Magana, Tribal Council Member of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. “Supporting local education is an investment in our community for now and in the future. It’s our priority to support programs that provide educational opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable.”
The largest grant went to the Tehama County Arts Council to provide free art classes and special events to the entire community at the Green Room Community Art Studio. “The Green Room Community Art Studio provides artistic instruction and opportunities that are not available in local schools, or would be too costly for many of our community members to afford without the grant,” said Freeman. “It’s a resource for the community, and is an important step in the development of Tehama County as a thriving cultural center.”
The grant to the Tehama County Education Foundation enables Expect More Tehama to fund the transportation of over 800 8th graders on field trips to local universities. The purpose of the Expect More Tehama program is to encourage college attendance after high school graduation.
The Jackson Heights Elementary School will use their grant to provide laptop computers to families who complete the Parent University series, a program designed to create a bridge between the home and school.
The Richfield School District grant enables 6th graders to attend the Shady Creek Out Door School Camp. The residential environmental science camp is a hands on curriculum that meets the 6th grade California State Science Standards. Classes include creek and forest ecology, geology, avian ecology, native cultures, sensory awareness, survival skills and team building activities. The program also teaches children personal responsibility to help preserve, conserve and enhance the natural environment.
The Soroptimist International Bidwell Rancho grant sponsors the 20th Annual Micro Brew Fest, which raises money to provide economic, educational, and healthcare resources to women in our community. The organization’s programs include Operation Mammogram, which provided free mammograms to over 600 uninsured women; and The Live Your Dream Award, which provides women who are the primary source of financial support for their families the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects.
Give Kids a Smile Day is a one day event that provides free dental services to children ages 1 to 19 that do not have any form of dental insurance. “All three Indian Health Clinics work together, side by side, to deliver care to children in need,” said Lladira Vasquez, Donation Coordinator for the event. The Foundation grant provides aftercare funds for additional dental services after the event, including root canals, crowns, and restorations.
The Mercy High School grant sponsors the schools annual dinner to raise funds for scholarships to the school.
The Boulder Creek School, Vigilante Kindness grant helps students gain literacy skills through digital storytelling. Funds cover the cost of technology to facilitate the program.
The Rolling Hills Community Development Foundation committee reviews applications for grants on a quarterly basis. Applications and more information are available on the Rolling Hills Casino website at www.rollinghillsfoundation.com.
