Cherokee Nation officials were in Vian recently to present a $250,000 check to the Vian Community Foundation (VCF), which will be used to complete work on the Community Building at Armstrong Park Softball Field, north of town. Attending the check presentation were Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and other tribal officials and representatives from the Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach and members and officers of the VCF. Pictured from left are, James Thornton, Kevin Stretch, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Tina Glory Jordan, Sequoyah County Commissioner for Dist. 2 Beau Burlison, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Cherokee Nation Councilman for District 5 E.O. Smith Jr., Suzanne Sullivan (VCF's CEO) accepting the check from Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Buck Clark, James Smith, Vian Mayor Dennis Fletcher, Callie Prier, Sherry Pickle and VCF Board Chairman Kenyatta Wright.
Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - The Cherokee Nation recently presented a $250,000 check to the Vian Community Foundation (VCF). The money will be used to complete work on the town's Community Building, which is at Armstrong Park north of town, where the softball fields are located.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, along with E.O. Smith Jr., the Sequoyah County District Council representative and other tribal officials were in attendance.
Kenyatta Wright, VCF's board chairman, said, “We're very excited about this. With the money, we can finish the interior work, which currently just has a few pieces of lumber framing off some rooms. Now we can put up the walls, the bathroom and any other work can be completed.”
Wright said the building will be used as a multi-purpose facility and can be used for meetings, gatherings or anything else the community needs. He said the building will also include a kitchen area when it is completed and it may be used as a food distribution center.
VCF's Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Sullivan, said the building and five acres were donated to the Cherokee Nation several years ago, but the tribe plans to lease the building back over to the foundation and eventually will be given back to the community.
“The Vian Community Foundation is a Cherokee organization, and is extremely grateful for the continued partnership with the Cherokee Nation. The community building has been a longtime dream of the foundation, and with this tremendous help from the Cherokee Nation, this dream will become a reality!” she said.
“Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner and Councilman E.O. Smith have a vision for all our people within the Cherokee Nation, and to be able to work with them is a great honor for the Vian Community Foundation,” she added.
Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer
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