Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation will fund community youth programs with a $100,000 program aimed at helping tribal youth members to accomplish their goals. Fourteen applicants completing the necessary documentation for the grant will be the first group to receive funds from this year’s grant.

The Cherokee Nation recognized there were needs within the Cherokee community that fell beyond the scope of Cherokee Nation’s services. There were numerous requests from young tribal members asking for assistance for out-of-pocket travel expenses, membership fees and registration fees for softball tournaments, academic bowls, powwows and organized band events. These are the types of activities and expenses that the Community Youth Grant Program addresses.

“It is important to note that this money is available to Cherokee youth throughout the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional area,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

The Community Youth Grant program is administered through Cherokee FIRST. The grant requires that the tribal member or group requesting funds should be able to match the grant provided by the Cherokee Nation. Each request has a limit of $200 per individual or $500 per group. This year, over 200 applications have been submitted to Cherokee FIRST.

As a result of being a community youth grant program recipient in 2001, Kenneth Limore, Jr. was able to enter the Muskogee Regional Livestock Show in March 2002 where he won an award for raising the Reserve Grand Champion Market Heifer.

“Our team is very grateful for the money that we were granted,” said Kim Tarrance of Welling, Okla., a coach for The Fever softball team. “It has helped our team out a great deal considering we are a first year team.”

The Oaks Peewee team, from Oaks, Okla., also received funds from the community youth grant program in 2001.

“We would like to thank Cherokee Nation for the Community Youth Grant,” said Martin Blossom, Oaks Peewee team coach. “We had a lot of fun, made a lot of new friends and learned about good sportsmanship.”