Ghost Tree FAQ's -
What are your management costs?
First, the Ghost Tree is entirely put on by volunteers. Anyone working on the event including our Board of Directors, Founder and President are paid $0 each year. Ryan and Heidi Chackel founded and continue to operate the Ghost Tree with this philosophy that continues even today. We all donate our time to make this event a reality, which is unusual. Several events in our area have huge management costs or event director costs that take a large cut out of the net, not the Ghost Tree. It's 100% volunteer powered.
Where do the funds from the GTI go?
First Story is now the primary beneficiary of the 2011 Ghost Tree Invitational
First Story is a 501(c)3 public non-profit organization. Our mission is to create partnerships that provide opportunities for qualified low-income families in need of affordable housing. First Story has coordinated the construction of 33 homes since its inception in 1999 and donated over $450,000 to underfunded programs that support low-income communities.
Our partnerships, our programs, and our services address the issue of homelessness, promote the stability of the family, and support high risk, highly vulnerable youth. The organization’s primary mission and purpose is to:
• Address the basic need of shelter by building affordable housing in stable communities.
• Contribute to the development of at-risk youth through a partnership with AmeriCorps YouthBuild Programs.
• Promote and sustain the support systems within the community through a Community Giving Program that allocates 10% of our budget to support underfunded, low-income programs.
Our target audience is families that are below 80% of AMI. They are the families that seem to fall through the cracks; the ones that make too much for one support system, but not enough for another. They are employed, they have cleaned up any credit issues and they have been educated and prepared for homeownership. The education for these families is typically managed by a local Housing Authority and is part of their goals in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. We are committed to building homes in communities where families can seamlessly become part of the neighborhood. The homes are built to the exact specifications of the other homes in the community providing an excellent home for the family in need.
tel 541.728.0830
www.firststory.org or info@firststory.org
Additional beneficiaries include (1 additional pending):
The Assistance League of Bend
Assistance League of Bend is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization consisting of a dedicated group of women with a passion for supporting the local community in a direct, meaningful way. Our primary focus is on the root causes of poverty through a variety of philanthropic programs and projects. Assistance League of Bend also leverages its resources to improve the quality of life for all adults and children. The Assistance League has been a beneficiary of the Ghost Tree for over 5 years, donating nearly $50,000 to this great non-profit. 541-389-2075, www.assistanceleaguebend.com
The Boys and Girls Club of Central Oregon
The Boys and Girls Club of Central Oregon seeks to enable all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. www.bgcco.org
