CHEROKEE, April 2, 2007—Cherokee
Preservation Foundation, the Office
of the Principal Chief of the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel
announced today that they will again
sponsor the Cherokee Day of Caring,
an annual event begun in 2005 that
builds on the gadugi tradition of community
service. Now is the time for volunteers
to sign up to help neighbors who are
unable to do much-needed work on their
homes, yards or gardens. The all-day
community service event will take place
on May 18 within the ten communities
of the EBCI.
During the daylong event,
members of the tribe and community
will help ten
families or individuals in particular
need who have been nominated by their
communities clubs. Volunteers will
lend a hand with painting, yard clean-up,
gardening, and fix-it projects.
Other
features of the Cherokee Day of Caring
will be the honoring of ten
Quiet Heroes who have served their
communities unselfishly, as well as
a Good Neighbor who does not live in
one of the EBCI communities, but has
significantly helped members of the
Tribe.
"
Last year, 200 volunteers stepped forward
and helped neighbors who needed a hand — twice
as many volunteers as the year before,” said
Paula Nelson, who serves as community
development coordinator for the Qualla
Boundary. “Working together during
the Cherokee Day of Caring, everyone
accomplished an amazing amount of work.
We hope even more people will participate
in this wonderful community event next
month.”
No special skills are
necessary in order to participate,
but they would
be welcomed. Anyone who can help during
the entire eight-hour period between
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. is urged to
call 497-3521 and ask for Valorie Welch
or Paula Nelson. Harrah’s employees
who would like to volunteer should
contact Janna Lambert at 497-8853.
Tribal government employees who want
to participate should consult first
with their supervisor and then contact
Annette Clapsaddle at 497-7029.
About
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
The
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)
is one of the three federally
recognized Cherokee tribes and the
only one east of the Mississippi River.
There are approximately 13,000 EBCI
members, many of whom live on the Qualla
Boundary.
About Harrah’s
Cherokee Casino & Hotel
Harrah's
Cherokee is an enterprise of the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians
and managed by Harrah's Entertainment
Inc. Located one mile from the downtown
area of Cherokee, the facility features
a gaming area, a hotel, a conference
center and restaurants. Harrah’s
Cherokee is one of the largest employers
in North Carolina west of Charlotte.
Harrah’s Cherokee seeks to make
positive change in the region through
employment, volunteerism and financial
contributions to non-profit groups.
About Cherokee Preservation
Foundation
Cherokee Preservation
Foundation (CPFdn) was established
on November
14, 2000,
as part of the Second Amendment to
the Tribal-State Compact between the
EBCI and the State of North Carolina.
It is an independent nonprofit foundation
funded by the EBCI from gaming revenues
generated by the Tribe. CPFdn is not
part of or associated with any for-profit
gaming entity. Since CPFdn’s
inception, it has made 375 grants totaling
nearly $31 million to EBCI and regional
projects and programs that address
cultural preservation, economic development
and job creation, and environmental
renewal and protection.
