The Gold Beach Youth Fund recognizes that the quality, diversity, and quantity of educational opportunities are a social determinant of health in Curry County. GBFY is working to develop scholarship and grant opportunities to address these issues.
In 2023 GBYF was selected by Southwest Oregon Children’s Foundation to receive a transfer of cash and endowment assets by the end of the year. SWOCF was initially funded by Tim & Jeri Tuttle and has awarded more than $700,000 in grants and scholarships for Curry County community youth since 2018. The purpose of the transfer of assets from SWOCF to GBYF includes but is not limited to:
- Providing funds to help work toward a GBYF long-standing goal of building endowments to fund youth opportunities in the Central Curry School District.
- Emphasizing continuity for scholarship and grant opportunities in alignment with the intent of and past work of SWOCF.
- Doing something about educational opportunities that improve the social determinants of health in the Central Curry School District.
- Strengthening the GBYF organization to expand its work within the community and leverage accomplishments.
- Placing the funds in the hands of the people who know the community the best.
The transfer of SWOCF assets included the Dugie Freeman and Harry Carlson endowments that were originally funded by the estates of individuals who held a strong belief in youth and the importance/future of all manner of trades. A description of each of these endowments is here.
Freeman Endowment
Dugie Freeman lived a passionate life. He had an intense desire for learning, an open mind for improvement, a willingness to change, and enthusiasm to take on challenges with gusto. He was an avid outdoorsman and a student of anything he was interested in. Dugie spent his entire working career in Curry County, and he wanted to give back to the community where he had built his life.
Established in June of 2020 at his passing, the Freeman Endowment Fund supports learners seeking to increase their knowledge and gain skills. Weight is given to applicants pursuing vocational or trades education and who intend to remain in Curry County after completing their education. There is no age limit for student eligibility. However, applicants must live in central Curry County, defined as the Port of Gold Beach district boundaries. Click here for the Port of Gold Beach boundary map.
How to Apply Grow the FREEMAN ENDOWMENTHarry Carlson Endowment
A blue-collar man, Harry Carlson was a stonemason in the Sacramento River Delta during his working career. Harry was an avid salmon and steelhead fisherman. Harry moved to Gold Beach when he retired in 2010. As a young man, he was a former Eagle Scout and dirt track racer. In his later years
Harry was an author and volunteered at the Indian Creek Fish Hatchery. As a lifelong tradesman, Harry wanted his estate to go to benefit the youth of Gold Beach with a focus on scholarships for trade schools and youth activities.
