The 2009 charity is Thunder Valley Community Development

CCR has chosen Thunder Valley Community Development as the recipient of our charitable efforts. Their mission:

"Empowering Lakota youth and families to improve the health, culture and environment of our community, through the healing and strengthening of cultural identity."

Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a Native American 501(c)3 non-profit public charitable organization based out of the Thunder Valley community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Thunder Valley is located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota, between Rockyford School and Sharps Corner. Historically a ranching community, over the past ten years Thunder Valley has become a focal point for Lakota cultural revitalization amongst youth and young families. Some eleven years ago Jerome LeBeaux and his family began doing Lakota ceremonies and brought a Sun Dance to Thunder Valley. From the beginning, this Sun Dance was called the Thunder Valley Sun Dance. As Thunder Valley has grown, youth have been empowered by Lakota culture, the songs, language, prayer and holistic way of life.

Today hundreds of people and families participate in cultural ceremonies, events and activities at Thunder Valley. This emerging generation of young people, learning about the culture and building a spiritual foundation, has created a growing sense of pride and ownership in the community. Through a series of community meeting, gatherings and ceremonies, we decided to create a community development organization dedicated to strengthening our way of life and improving living conditions in our community.

Our holistic approach to community development includes strengthening our cultural and spiritual wellness, physical and mental health, and economic conditions. Job creation on Pine Ridge goes hand-in-hand with our cultural work; environmental sustainability and ecological health are central to our work. This empowering vision of community development, built on a philosophy of cultural strength, physical wellness and economic sustainability, is universally shared within our community.

CCR has contributed more than $115,000 to charity since our first in 2000

The Curve Cowboy Reunion is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  The current IRS filing document can be found here. The volunteers and BOD members invest a great deal of time and effort in planning and producing our annual reunion. We do this to the benefit of our Curve Cowboy Reunion attendees as well as the local charity chosen each year. None of the volunteers working on this event receive any compensation for their time and effort. The directors and officers on the Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers as well. All funds collected by the reunion, via reunion fees, and merchandise, are used only to fund the annual reunion. Donations, 50/50 income and Silent Auction revenue are used to generate the contribution for the chosen local charity.  Nobody in the CCR is in this to make money. The requirements set by our organization by-laws as well as IRS guidelines require that all director and officer positions on the CCR BOD are not compensated. Our goal each year is to have a great reunion and to walk away with great memories.

In 2001, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of all the attendees donated over $1500 to First Step, an organization chartered to provide an array of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in a community setting including early intervention, preschool, residential homes and supported employment.  Between the Curve Cowboy Reunion's donation and the proceeds of the Bike Wash, over $1800 was secured for First Step.

In 2002, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of all the attendees donated $5000 to the BMW MOA Foundation, an organization under the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America chartered to carry out educational activities that benefit the BMW Community, motorcycle riders in general and other educational activities related to motorcycling.

In 2003, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of all the attendees donated $8000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, an organization who's mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.  Also, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of all the attendees donated $500 to Gatlinburg Interact, a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 14-18. The program gives young people an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.

In 2004, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of all the attendees raised nearly $12000 for the Summit County Mentors, a well-established community-based mentoring program that matches caring adult volunteers with youth ages 6 to 16.  Summit County Mentors' mission is "to positively influence the youth of Summit County to lead healthy lifestyles, through a consistent one-on-one relationship with an adult", and $12000 for TAME, an organization that provides equine assisted therapies and activities, including recreational riding for individuals with disabilities, hippotherapy, equine assisted psychotherapy, driving, vaulting, competition and other therapeutic and educational interactions with horses.  And generated over $1000 for the local Breckenridge Nordic Ski Team.

In 2005, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of the attendees raised over $12000 for to "Focus on Success", an after school program for at risk middle school students at Jackson Hole Middle School. The program meets twice a week for adventure based experiential activities to develop the skills that promote substance abuse prevention and enhance school success.  This donation was able to double the program budget for 2005-2006.

In 2006, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of the attendees raised over $22000 for the Barrow County Advocacy Center (a.k.a., the "Treehouse"), an organization that provides advocacy and treatment for victims of child abuse including counseling, medical help, forensic evaluations, and conducts programs to help prevent abuse in all its forms.

In 2007, the Curve Cowboy Reunion on behalf of the attendees raised over $22000 for Camp David Kids of the Ozarks, an organization that helps at-risk children of parents who are in prison.

In 2008, the Curve Cowboy Reunion raised $28,000 for the Wasatch County Children's Justice Center. Their press release from September, 2008 says it all:

IRS 501(c)(3) Filing document