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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Beverly Adkisson, Tahlequah Market President of Bank of America presented a check for $11,500. to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Heritage Center to help underwrite its participation in the Cherokee National Holiday.

"This is a concrete example of our partnership with the Center and with the city's, Tourism Council's, Nation's and University's commitment to work together for the benefit of the whole region," Adkisson said.

The Cherokee National Holiday, an annual event, will bring over a hundred thousand Cherokee Indian and non-Indian visitors into the Tahlequah area over Labor Day weekend.

Linda Turnbull-Lewis, who heads the Cherokee National Holiday for the Nation said, "Partnershps and support like that provided by Bank of America will make this the best Holiday ever."

Events are planned for the town square, tribal complex, powwow grounds and other venues and range from a kid's fishing derby, powwow, Chief Chad Smith's State of the Nation address to a free feed.

The Cherokee Heritage Center will host traditional games and over 100 arts and crafts and food vendors on their beautiful wooded 44 acres just south of Tahlequah.

"We've been a leader in cultural tourism in the United States since the 1960's ," Mary Ellen Meredith, interim executive director of the Cherokee Heritage Center said. "We intend to be the best and most visited tribally specific educational center in the world. Bank of America's support and the wonderful cooperative, creative spirit of the whole area makes our goal easily attainable. We are enormously grateful to Bank of America and all of our partners and supporters."