Wildhorse Foundation disburses nearly $376K in fourth quarter 2024 grants
Published 5:30 am Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- A full house, including in the balcony, settles in Dec. 7, 2023, for the Winter Band Concert in the Gem Theater. The Wildhorse Foundation announced Feb. 17, 2025, that Athena Gem Inc. was among the recipients of a fourth quarter 2024 grant of $30,000 to complete the renovation project in the theatre.
MISSION — The Gem Theatre project was among the recipients that received the top grant amount of $30,000 during the 2024 fourth quarter grant disbursements from the Wildhorse Foundation.
Athena Gem Inc. will use the funding to complete the stage, audio, projection and lighting in the Betz Building at 239 W. Main St. in Athena. The historic structure first opened in 1901 as a saloon and restaurant.
In all, the Wildhorse Foundation awarded 29 nonprofit organizations grants ranging from $1,440 to $30,000 for a total of $375.859. The projects fall under the categories of public health, public safety, the arts, education, historic preservation and cultural activities.
Other local projects benefiting from awards, the grant amount and purpose:
ATHENA-WESTON — YMCA of Walla Walla, $8,000 for the Athena-Weston Youth Summer Resilience Program.
ENTERPRISE — Wallowa Land Trust, $7,665 to support the 2025 Wallowa Gathering.
HELIX — Helix Advancement Partnership Network, $20,000 for the old school building renovation project.
HERMISTON — Made to Thrive, $10,000 to provide access for rural youths to participate in extracurricular activities.
IRRIGON — Irrigon Jr/Sr High School, $6, 172 for portable radios.
LA GRANDE — Art Center East, $15,000 for an afterschool art program.
MILTON-FREEWATER — Central Middle School, $7, 615 for Advanced Art and STEAM 2025, an overnight field trip.
MISSION — First Nations Veterinary (Portland), $14,300 for free spay/neuter clinic on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Nixyaawii Community Financial Services, $12,600 for Napt Tanananwit, Laxs Nisayct – Two Cultures, One Community annual powwow; Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, $3,000 to support STEAM programming in the Wildhorse service area.
PENDLETON — Storm Volleyball Club, $2,150 to support the club; Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office, $24,172 for the George Murdock Eastern Oregon Regional Child Abuse Conference.
The Wildhorse Foundation is managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The foundation board considers grant applications each quarter. The next grant application deadline is April 1.
For more information or a grant application, visit www.thewildhorsefoundation.com. For questions, contact 541-966-1628 or foundation@wildhorseresort.com.
