The Oregon Community Foundation has awarded more than $337,000 in grants to a variety of Central Oregon nonprofits this fall.

The foundation’s board approved the grants in November, and the money has now been distributed, according to Joan Vallerjo with OCF. The group defines Central Oregon as Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler counties and the Warm Springs Reservation.

Among the largest grants was $58,415 to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to expand and improve culturally based curriculum for Native American students. This is the third year the tribe received funding from OCF for that work.

The tribe also received $20,000 to support KWSO Radio, a radio station owned by the tribe that airs locally produced programs, and $4,000 to purchase 25 sets of firefighting gear. And the Warm Springs Boys & Girls Club will receive a digital learning center thanks to another $12,000 grant.

Elsewhere, the group working to rebuild the Ash Butte Grange Hall in Ashwood, northeast of Madras, received $14,000. The hall burned down in 2012, and the group continues to fundraise as it rebuilds.

“We’re hoping to be able to start on the electrical on the inside,” Annette Thornton, secretary of the grange, said Thursday.

Among the education causes receiving grants was the Sisters Schools Foundation, which got $15,000 for a second year of support for the Seed to Table project that provides nutrition education and produce to students.

Children’s Forest of Central Oregon in Bend got $10,000 for its Nature and Health Initiative, a series of nature and school-based programs. And the Landing Youth & Tutoring Center in Prineville received $8,000 to support after-school programs for middle and high school students.

Other groups receiving OCF grants this fall include Heart of Oregon Corps, La Pine Community Kitchen, CASA of Central Oregon, J Bar J Youth Services and Deschutes Land Trust.

The Oregon Community Foundation promotes philanthropy in the state by working with people, companies and organizations to create charitable funds. For the full list of OCF’s grant recipients go to www.oregoncf.org.

— Reporter: 541-617-7837,

aspegman@bendbulletin.com