Cherokee Nation makes gift for Will Rogers Memorial

Cherokee Nation and Will Rogers Memorial officials were on hand for a $10,000 gift from Cherokee Nation to Will Rogers Heritage. Sharing in the presentation were (from left) Jack Baker, Cherokee Nation At-Large Tribal Councilor; Chris Soap, Tribal Councilor representing Mayes County; Chuck Hoskin Jr., Tribal Councilor representing Craig and Nowata Counties; Cara Cowan Watts, Tribal Councilor representing Rogers County; Julie Luna, Will Rogers Memorial events coordinator and store manager; Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith; Pat Reeder, Will Rogers Museums director of public relations; Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Museums and Heritage director, and his wife Helen. (Cherokee Nation Photograph)

 

The Cherokee Nation recently contributed $10,000 to Will Rogers Heritage. The funding contributed to WR Heritage, a non-profit foundation, will further the Will Rogers Museums — Memorial in Claremore and Birthplace Ranch in Oologah — mission to collect, preserve and share the wit, wisdom, and life of Will Rogers for all generations.

“The Cherokee Nation’s appropriation will help fill a critical gap in the funding of these museums dedicated to the life and legacy of Will Rogers, a proud member of the Cherokee Nation and one of its favorite sons,” said Steve Gragert, executive director of Will Rogers Memorial Museums.

On the same day,  Tri-County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. received $6,842 from the Cherokee Nation.

“The Cherokee Nation is proud to provide support to Will Rogers Memorial Museums, which are influential in collecting and preserving the life and humor of well known Cherokee citizen Will Rogers,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “In addition we are glad to partner with organizations such as CASA who actively play a role in giving a voice to neglected and abused children in the court system.”

Tri-County CASA, Inc., is a Claremore based non-profit that serves as a voice for children in court throughout Rogers, Mayes and Craig Counties. It is one of 26 CASA organizations in Oklahoma. Volunteers speak as guardians for the children in court with information about the children to whom they were appointed free from agency biases, policies and procedure