Community Foundation Grants more than $84,000

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded more than $84,000 in grants to organizations impacting Isabella County.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $848.18 from the W. Sidney & Judith French Smith Community Fund to support Art Walk Central 2016, an art competition and cultural events held throughout Mt. Pleasant August 20th-September 10th.

Beal City Public Schools received $3,635.18 from the Beal City Public Schools Education Foundation for scholarships, grants, and a test preparation project.

Beal City Public Schools received $3,700.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and $7,400.00 from the Community Impact Fund to purchase 14 new laptop computers.

Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library received $571.71 from the William J. Strickler Clarke Historical Library Fund to digitize historic Mt. Pleasant newspapers.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $1,400.15 from the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy Fund and $1,121.71 from the William Brehm Memorial/Chippewa Watershed Conservancy Stewardship Fund to help offset monitoring and stewardship costs associated with preserves in Isabella County.

Child and Family Enrichment Council received $1,349.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to purchase furniture and create a more comfortable environment in their child forensic interview room.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $7,500 from the John R. and Constance M. Harkins Community Fund as a match contribution and challenge to the community to support the Potter Playground Project, an effort to revitalize the play-lot on the corner of Maple and Pine Streets.

Community Compassion Network received $3,977.54 from the Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund and $1,022.46 from the Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Fund to support twice monthly mobile food pantries for 200+ local families. CCN also received $5,000.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to support Nutrition Club, a weekend food assistance program for nearly 700 students throughout Isabella County.

Flat Mountain Mechanics (Central Michigan Robotics Association) received $1,000.00 from the Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund and $1,000.00 from the Bovee Family Fund to purchase computers.

Great Lakes Bay Foundation received $5,000.00 from the Barbara A. Bissot Fund for Art Wave, a marketing initiative designed to highlight art and entertainment venues in Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties throughout May-September, 2016.

Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $1,740.25 from the Olson Family Fund to purchase a new washer and dryer for the facility.

Isabella Township received $2,200.00 from the James Dale Ervin Memorial Fund to purchase goals and nets for the soccer field being developed for the children of Rosebush.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum received $1,500.00 from the Optimist Club of Mt. Pleasant Fund and $1,675.00 from the Barbara L. and George W. Dunn Family Fund to develop a fun, educational, and artistic outdoor space that will include an art garden, mud pie kitchen, sculpture walk, sound garden, theatrical circle and storage barn.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $1,800.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and $600.00 from the Joe and Jeanne Epple Family Fund for the Mt. Pleasant High School baseball and softball stadium renovations.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $3,000.00 from the Morning Sun Community Fund for professional development with author and educator, Eric Jensen. Staff and administration will take away brain-based learning strategies that can lead to academic success for economically disadvantaged students.

Renaissance Public School Academy received $1,700.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, $1,700.00 from the Robert and Geraldine Krapohl Literacy Fund and $2,600.00 from the Community Impact Fund to purchase books for a new school media center/library.

Shepherd Public Schools received $7,000.00 from the Access to Recreation Fund to install rubberized ground surfacing around new playground equipment in the school’s athletic complex. The Play Zone is designed for all children--including those with physical, developmental, cognitive, and sensory disabilities--to experience accessible, independent, self-directed play and increased fitness.

Shepherd Public Schools received $300.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to host a safe and fun afterprom party for high school students on May 7th.

Shepherd Railroad Museum Association received $437.00 from the Shepherd Community Fund in Honor of Robert Bates to paint the Shepherd Depot Caboose.

United Way of Isabella County received $7,001.50 from the United Way of Isabella County Fund to facilitate a strategic visioning process for the Board of Trustees and $4,659.52 from the Volunteer Center of Isabella County Fund to develop and implement a wide-ranging public relations effort to promote volunteerism.

Women’s Aid Service received $1,740.25 from the Olson Family Fund to be used where it is most needed. In total, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation awarded $84,179.45 in its first grant cycle of 2016.

Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due May 25, 2016.