The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

On Monday, Lower Columbia College (LCC) and the Lower Columbia College Foundation (LCCF) announced that they will be the recipients of a $1 million-dollar gift from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

“The Cowlitz Indian Tribe invests in education because we understand the value it brings to individuals and the community,” said Timi Marie Russin, Cowlitz Tribal Foundation manager. “We are honored to be a part of the mission and grateful for the partnership with Lower Columbia College.”

The investment made by the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation will be used to support the LCCF “Opportunity Can’t Wait” campaign for the benefit of students and the greater Cowlitz community. The campaign will leverage $38.5 million in public dollars and $15 million in private philanthropy to create a skills center, ensure scholarships are fully accessible, and improve athletic facilities, according to Kendra Sprague, LCC Vice President of Foundation, Human Resources, and Legal Affairs.

Since 2017, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe has donated approximately $28 million to local communities and the state of Washington as a whole. Steve Fuller, Chair of the LCC Foundation, praised the Tribe.

“LCC is fortunate to have supporters like the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, whose gifts will continue to benefit students and this community for years to come,” he said in a press release.

For more information about how to contribute to the LCC Foundation, please visit lowercolumbia.edu/foundation.