Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

For good. For ever.

306 South University Avenue Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858 United States

(989) 773-7322

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come, by attracting and holding permanent endowed funds from a wide range of donors, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Kellogg Youth Fund

In 1992, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation issued a challenge in an attempt to strengthen the network of community foundations throughout the state of Michigan. The challenge: they would match $1 for every $2 raised by any community foundation that started a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation accepted the challenge and went on to receive a grant for $125,000. These dollars established the Kellogg Youth Fund, a permanent endowment.

Since its establishment, the fund has awarded approximately 350 grants to organizations in Isabella County for many different projects. From health and fitness to education and the arts, as long as a program/project benefits the youth of Isabella County, it may be supported by a grant from the Kellogg Youth Fund. Youth focused grants have made an impact in areas of the community where many other funds have not. Recent grants highlight the breadth Kellogg Youth Fund possibilities.

Girls on the Run is an organization that educates young girls about living healthy lives and avoiding hazardous activities such as alcohol abuse, eating disorders, depression and sedentary lifestyles. At the end of the course, each girl participates in a celebratory 5K run/walk.

Girls on the Run

Another organization that has benefited greatly from the Kellogg Youth Fund is the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum. The goal of the museum is to encourage creativity, learning and curiosity in youth in an engaging, hands-on environment for kids to explore and discover. The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum has been awarded grants from the Kellogg Youth Fund for several exhibits including the Magnetic Field, the Musical Playground, Traveling Hive, Fender Blender and Ramp Room.

youth on bike at Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum

Odyssey High School's Challenge Day would not have been possible without a grant from the Kellogg Youth Fund. Challenge Day is a program designed to bring together at-risk youth for a series of activities that challenge them to step outside their comfort zones and help them gain confidence for a successful future. This program has since been incredibly beneficial and successful event in helping young people develop both physically and mentally.

Christmas Outreach is a nonprofit focused on helping less fortunate families during the holidays. Through three different projects supported by the Kellogg Youth Fund, Outreach brought holiday cheer to 2,373 households throughout Isabella County during the Christmas season. The projects collected toys, children's books, clothing and food and then distributed them to needy kids and their families.

Christmas Outreach candid photo

Since its establishment, the Kellogg Youth Fund has impacted thousands of youth in Isabella County. With the help of the Youth Advisory Committee, which makes funding recommendations for youth focused grants, MPACF hopes to continue to positively impact the lives of youth throughout Isabella County.