The CIRI Foundation Congratulates Recent Graduates
The CIRI Foundation congratulates all scholarship and grant recipients who have recently graduated. Graduates are encouraged to mail The Foundation copies of diplomas or certificates of completion. Upon receipt, The Foundation will send the graduate a deluxe organizer that provides space for business accessories such as a PDA, cell phone, and CDs. The CIRI Foundation's mission is to promote self-sufficiency among Alaska Natives who are original enrollees of CIRI and their lineal descendants. Information about The Foundation's scholarship and grant program can be found on their web site at www.ciri.com/tcf.

The CIRI Foundation
2600 Cordova St., Ste. 206
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 263-5582
(800) 764-3382

Volunteers Needed for Elder Program
Alaska Native elders are a precious resource, and Southcentral Foundation's Elder Program is a great opportunity for CIRI shareholders and descendants to volunteer service for Alaska Native and Native American elders in the Anchorage community. The program needs volunteers to help serve the daily lunch, assist at the monthly potlucks, help with group activities such as bingo, beading, sewing and berry picking, and help deliver food boxes to elders in need.

Southcentral Foundation's Elder Program serves Alaska Native and American Indian elders age 55 and over who live in the Anchorage area and need health and community resources. The program's services include home visitations, advocacy, family caregiver support, activities, transportation, and lunch programs. If you are interested, please contact Pauline Demas at (907) 729-6500, or stop by the program's office at 6901 E. Tudor Road, Suite 8, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hospitality and Tourism Training for Alaska Natives
For more than three years, Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Hospitality & Tourism Career Institute has provided free year-round training for Alaska Natives and American Indians. The Institute offers year-round educational programs to adults 18 and older who are interested in working for the tourism industry and increasing tourism and hospitality skills. Courses focus on Alaska Host/Cultural Host, Alaska Host/Barista, Hotel Front Desk/Cultural Host, Warranty of Employability, Culinary Arts/ServSafe, and Alaska Host/Entrepreneurship. Graduates receive industry-recognized certificates upon completion of classes. Recent graduates have been placed in jobs such as front desk clerk, barista, concierge, expeditor at a tour company, cultural host, housekeeper, and prep-cook.

Anuska Sears, who worked as a cultural host for the Alaska Native Heritage Center, feels the Alaska Host training helped her feel more at ease and better able to associate with travelers from around the world and the certification gave her more self-confidence.
For Hospitality & Tourism Career Institute information visit the education page of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council web site, www.citci.com, or call (907) 297-2036.