"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Contributes $145,000

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation places an emphasis on providing educational opportunities to young people and recently contributed $145,000 dollars to several area Boys and Girls Club of America chapters to help promote the development of our youth. More than 16,000 youth participate in activities provided by these local Boys and Girls Clubs organizations.

“I applaud all of the Boys and Girls Clubs for the work that each of you do for our youth,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “To partner with you is a great honor and privilege. We share the common goal of developing our youth. A community does not always represent just a place, but can represent an entire community of interests.”

Local chapters that received contributions included Boys and Girls Club of Tahlequah, Boys and Girls Club of Green Country in Pryor, Boys and Girls Club of Bartlesville, Delaware County Boys and Girls Club, Boys and Girls Club of Sequoyah County, Boys and Girls Club of Nowata and Boys and Girls Club of Chelsea.

Dr. Neil Morton, Group Leader of Education Services, says that through collaboration efforts with schools and community organizations, like Boys and Girls Clubs, the Cherokee Nation can make a greater impact in communities and in the lives of our leaders of tomorrow.

“We are pleased to be a part of Chief Smith’s vision,” said Chris Kinder, Boys and Girls Club of Green Country President. “We are proud to service our youth. The generosity of the Cherokee Nation is amazing. Thank you so much.”

“It’s a great day in the Cherokee Nation when we can have a positive impact on 16,344 area youth,” said Diane Kelley, Group Leader of Career Services. “It is great that we are in a position to put money back into our Cherokee communities to better serve our citizens.”

According to organization literature, the mission of Boys and Girls Club is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. In 2006, Boys and Girls Clubs of America celebrated 100 years of providing opportunity to young people across the country. Today, approximately 4,300 clubs are in existence today and serve over 4.8 million boys and girls throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and on U.S. military bases around the world.