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.

Esther A. Kraus Peacemaking Fund

Established in 1992, the Esther A. Kraus Peacemaking Fund was created to provide opportunities for school students and staff to learn more about peacemaking. The fund was created through the efforts and imagination of Esther Kraus, a retired Central Michigan University (CMU) art professor and community member. Dr. Kraus was with CMU for 17 years, teaching art and sculpture classes.

Dr. Kraus was a woman who was deeply aware of the world, of nature, the environment and world peace. After witnessing the Mount Pleasant Student Peacemaking Awards ceremony, she was inspired to establish the Esther A. Kraus Peacemaking Fund.

Esther Kraus

Grants awarded from the Peacemaking Fund have been used for conflict management programs, books and videos for the students of Mount Pleasant Public Schools. Teachers and students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th-grade are privileged to have the opportunity to hear well-known authors present their works through programs held at the local schools. The Peacemaking Award Ceremony recognizes students nominated by a staff member or peer for having promoted tolerance, diversity and peacemaking for a specific action or for their general attitude and daily conduct. The Peacemaking Award Ceremony was something that Esther Kraus believed made a difference to the youth in the local community. She established this fund to ensure that acts of peacemaking would always be recognized and encouraged.

Peacemaking is an action, activity, event or way of life which reduces violence or conflict and contributes to a more cooperative and just way in which to live. An example of peacemaking that would be rewarded could include taking time out of your day to listen to those who have problems and help them try and find a solution, or taking the high road and not cheating on a test.

The witnessing of this program was something that Esther Kraus believed made a difference to the youth in the local community. She established this fund to ensure that the acts of peacemaking would always be present in their future actions.