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John T. Vucurevich Foundation Visits Lakota Fund

The Lakota Funds had the pleasure of visiting with the staff of John T. Vucurevich Foundation on November 15, 2007 at the Lakota Trade Center. The John T. Vucurevich Foundation was established in 1989 by its founder John T. Vucurevich who fully funded the foundation. The staff who came to see Lakota Funds was the John T. Vucurevich Foundation Executive Director Sandy Diegel, Chief Financial Officer Paul Phelan, and Grant Manager Carmen Hansen. With help from two of Lakota Funds clients and the Lakota Funds staff, all programs Lakota Funds oversees were presented to the foundations staff. The Individual Development Account program was discussed and the need for financial literacy in our communities was presented. Lakota Funds is hoping to achieve assistance from the foundation to continue to provide more services and classes to all members of the Pine Ridge Reservation interested in obtaining the information. All classes and training are open to the public who wanting financial literacy and entrepreneur information. Lakota Funds mission is a community development organization actively promoting socio-economic sustainability of Oglala Lakota people on the Pine Ridge reservation. It’s culturally appropriate strategies include business loans, technical assistance, and targeted community and business development. This is possible with the collaboration of various funding resources and programs at Lakota Funds are to help make small business dreams, and hope for our future entrepreneurs’ a reality.

Lakota Funds upcoming meetings/trainings are:

1. Financial Literacy November 21, 2007 at the Pejuta Haka College Center in Kyle. This course is free and required for Individual Development Account Participants and for clients requesting a loan from Lakota Funds.
2. Native American Artist Meeting November 26, 2007 at the Manderson College Center.
3. Lakota Nation Invitational Youth Financial Literacy Sessions December 19-21, 2007 during the Lakota Nation Invitation Tournament for all interest high school students. The workshop sessions for students will be offered with five classes, the 1st session will be Wednesday December 19 at 1:30PM, Thursday and Friday will have 2 sessions each day with one in the morning at 10:00AM and one in the afternoon at 1:30PM. The students can pick which session they can fit into their schedule.
4. Core Four Business Planning Course starts January 2008 it will be one night per week for 6 weeks at Pine Ridge College Center. This course is free; it does require participants to purchase their book for $ 40.00 at the Oglala Lakota College Book Store. This course is required for Lakota Funds clients who will be requesting a loan.

For more information call Lakota Funds at 455-2500, check out our website at www.lakotafunds.org, or listen to KILI Radio 90.1 FM on Mondays at 3:00PM-4:00PM.