The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation awarded $432,727 to 47 organizations from seven Southern Oregon counties at a grant awards ceremony on Jan. 8 at Seven Feathers Convention Center, in Canyonville.

The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians has a long tradition of giving back to communities where they live and work, a press release said. In 1997, the Cow Creek Tribe formalized this tradition of philanthropy by establishing the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundations.

“During this round of giving, the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Board focused on hunger in our communities. It’s very difficult to succeed if folks don’t have enough to eat,” Foundation executive director, Carma Mornarich, said in a press release.

The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation’s mission is to offer assistance in youth education, to strengthen youth and family, to provide positive youth development and to add to the quality of life for people in Douglas, Coos, Deschutes, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lane counties. Since its beginning 10 year ago, the foundation has awarded $8,371,317 in grants to nonprofit organizations. Awards are made semiannually.

The following organizations in Coos County received grants:

• Oregon Coast Community Action — $10,000 to support supervision of 15 additional CASA volunteer who will serve 20 to 30 children.

• Pacific Fisheries Enhancement Corp, Charleston Food Bank — $8,778 to support the operation of their food bank. The grant also will allow the organization to make repairs to their facility.

• Powers School District No. 31 — $13,000 to provide flooring materials and adequate drainage for their play shed.

Douglas County groups that were awarded grants included:

• The Battered Persons’ Advocacy: $15,000 to support the purchase of a 2004 or newer minivan/station wagon to transport clients as well as to support rural activities.

• CASA of Douglas County, Inc.: $10,000 to support an increase in time of their supervisor position or services may be provided to 68 more children and to support operating costs of the CASA program.

• Cobb Street Children’s Learning Center: $10,000 to subsidize the cost of child care for low-income families.

• District 6 manpower Program dba Umpqua Training and Employment, Inc.: $5,000 to support the offering of incentives to students who are working toward their GED.

• Douglas Resident Training Facilities: $15,000 to remodel two bathrooms to conform to requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists — Glide Helping Hands: $1,600 to support purchase of food from UCAN food bank to serve the rural communities of Dixonville, Glide, Idleyld Park and Diamond Lake.

• Glide Community Club: $10,000 to replace their commercial dishwasher in Reedsport.

• South Douglas Food Bank: $15,000 to buy food as well as to assist with utility costs.

• St. Joseph’s Community Kitchen: $7,500 to subsidize costs of their operations.

• Sutherlin/Oakland Food Pantry: $4,000 to buy bread from a local store at a special price.

• Umpqua Community Action Network Family Connections: $15,000 to support the training of childcare providers. The grant will be used for scholarships, promotional flyers and assessment tool booklets.

• Umpqua Community Health Center, Inc.: $10,000 for general operating support.

• Winston Area Community Partnership, the Buss Rondeau Award recipient: $10,000 to provide for the construction of a skate and bike park in Civic Wayside Park.