Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from the Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2003 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - A few Cherokee Nation employees with big hearts started thinking of ways to help needy children and elders at Christmas back when the temperature was as hot as in the cars in the Cherokee National Holiday Car Show.
From left to right, Dwayne Fain, Greg Bilby, Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Joe Grayson, Brandy Lemley, Shannon Chesser, Sandy Long, Justin Godwin, and Cheryl Hendrix pose by the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree with the $400 check the Cherokee National Holiday Car Show donated to help purchase gifts for the children on the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree. 
"We wanted to help take care of those less fortunate and give back to our elders," said Greg Bilby, member of the Cherokee National Holiday Car Show committee. "There’s a little bit of Santa Claus in all of us."
The Car Show committee decided to hold a Little Miss Car Show contest as a fundraiser. The contest raised $400 that was then donated to help purchase Christmas gifts for children on the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree and provide food baskets for needy elderly people in the community. Nicole Shell, 7 of Greasy, was crowned Little Miss Car Show by raising the most money in the form of votes. Seven contestants competed in the contest by asking people in the crowd to vote for them by putting money in their jars.
"We can really use this money," said Shannon Chesser, co-chair of the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree project. "We will use these funds to purchase gifts for kids who don’t get picked."
Each year, the Cherokee Nation Angel Tree provides gifts for needy children in the Cherokee Nation’s jurisdictional area. This year’s tree has more than 1000 angels.
"Cherokee Nation employees usually adopt around 300 angels and CNE (Cherokee Nation Enterprises) has adopted 150," Chesser said.
"We plan to do this again next year," said Justin Godwin, chair of the Cherokee National Holiday Car Show committee.
The 52rd Annual Cherokee National Holiday and car show will be held Labor Day weekend in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Contact Godwin, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2245) for more information.
| Related contact information: |
|
Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |