4th Annual Spring Gala & Fundraiser
The Gathering Thunder Foundation 2012 Spring Gala & Fundraiser will be held April 21, at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Gala will take place during the time of the "Butterflies are Blooming" exhibit, sponsored for the second year by The Temple Within, LLC. Last years event welcomed over 200 guests and helped raise funds for GTF programs.
We are very happy to welcome Barbara Dull Knife, granddaughter of Chief Dull Knife, along with Grandmother Beatrice, one of the 13 International Indigenous Grandmothers, to the 2012 Gala.
Advance tickets sales only, they will not be sold at the door! To purchase please use the Pay Pal button below, or contact GTF at info@gatheringthunderfoundation.org. Buy your tickets early as the Gala is sure to be another sell out event!
Paul Collins shared his thoughts prior to last years Gala with President Denise Iwaniw in the video below.
Gathering Thunder Foundation Fall Newsletter (download version)
| autumn_news_letter_10-2011.pdf |
Run for the Rez - September 2011
Thank you to GTF members and supporters who raised funds, gathered food, clothing, furniture/appliances, household and school supplies that were delivered to Porcupine and surrounding communities, on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. It was a very successful Run for the Rez!!!
Special thanks to the Michigan team was led by Carri Griffis, Teresa Tibbe and Diane Bursley; and Julie Barter who headed the volunteer committee in Indiana, as well as Alcoa who donated $2,000 from the Employee Community Chest at Alcoa Warrick Operations. For every viable suggestion that was submitted by employees at Warrick Operations, Alcoa contributed $5 to this fund. Many thanks to Alcoa and employee, Jerry Lockhart, for recommending Gathering Thunder Foundation Run for the Rez 2011!
Special thanks to the Michigan team was led by Carri Griffis, Teresa Tibbe and Diane Bursley; and Julie Barter who headed the volunteer committee in Indiana, as well as Alcoa who donated $2,000 from the Employee Community Chest at Alcoa Warrick Operations. For every viable suggestion that was submitted by employees at Warrick Operations, Alcoa contributed $5 to this fund. Many thanks to Alcoa and employee, Jerry Lockhart, for recommending Gathering Thunder Foundation Run for the Rez 2011!
President Two Bulls, Tribal Council member Wounded Head, Sr. and Tribal Council member Dull Knife, expressed their deepest thanks for the work of Gathering Thunder Foundation and all her members and supporters!
During our meeting, Tony Wounded Headed, Sr. talked about the desperate need for the Community Life Center, for both the youth and the elders of the Porcupine District. President Two Bulls reiterated that need, by explaining that the Porcupine District has no place for families and the community to gather for funerals, weddings, meetings, dinners and traditional purposes.
Councilman Wounded Headed Sr., spoke about the rising numbers of teen suicides on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The following article speaks to that concern:
Teen Suicide Emergency on Pine Ridge Reservation
May GTF come to represent a loud and supportive voice of unconditional love and hope, that the Native American children (of all ages) so desperately need.
Waste',
Denise Iwaniw, President