MPACF Grants More Than $127,000
MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $127,251.58 in grants to organizations impacting Isabella County.
Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $1,300 from the Russ Herron Poetry Fund for the Wellspring Literary Series, a partnership program between CMU’s English Department and Art Reach. Published Poets and CMU students are invited to Art Reach to read their latest works, while CMU music students perform musical interludes.
Beal City Public Schools received $681.76 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide two standing desks for Ms. Doyle’s classroom, which will accommodate two students at each.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland County Inc received a $2,500 grant from the Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Fund, the Kellogg Youth Fund, and the Myler Family Community Impact Fund to provide support for one-on-one mentoring programs through new curriculum and mentor training. These new programs will yield a larger impact on mentors and mentees.
Central Michigan University received $10,000 from an anonymous fund to support first year student success in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Services Interdisciplinary Program.
Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received a $3,600 grant from the Bandit Industries Community Fund, the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund, and the Missy and Doug LaBelle Family Foundation Community Impact Fund to provide Nature Preserve Signage and Marketing in order to promote awareness of and generate traffic of the public nature preserves maintained by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy.
Christmas Outreach of Isabella County received $3,000 from the Women's Initiative Fund to provide coats for women and girls in Isabella County, specifically size 2X to 5X, the least donated size. On average, Christmas Outreach spends $20 per coat – this grant will provide funding for 150 coats.
Community Compassion Network received a $4,153 grant from the Sherwood Family Fund, the W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund, and the William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund, to provide an electric pallet jack and a warehouse trolley cart which will make moving large kitchen equipment and pallets of food easier.
Community Compassion Network received $1,488.92 from the William Ellis Brockman Infant Assistance Fund to purchase diapers, pull-ups, baby formula, and baby food for distribution at the William Ellis Brockman Infant Pantry.
Hopewell Ranch received a $4,112.40 grant from the Hersee Family Fund, the Summit Petroleum Fund, and the Theunissen Family Fund to support capital improvements to their existing indoor arena, specifically a new room to safely store horse feed.
Isabella County Transportation Commission received $5,000 from the Rise Family Fund to support riders traveling to or from work, specifically riders from outside the limits of the City of Mt. Pleasant.
The John H. Goodrow Fund received $4,800 grant from the Elizabeth Z. Miller & Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund, the Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund, and the Sullivan Family Fund to provide ten-trip bus passes to guests in need. Guests may request these passes up to two times during 2019.
McLaren Central Michigan received $61,000 from the Central Michigan Community Hospital Fund to purchase a 3D Digital Mammography Machine.
MSU Extension - Isabella County 4-H Program Council received $2,148 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to introduce youth to issues that are impacting the honeybee population, learn hands-on beekeeping techniques, and experience entrepreneurial opportunities through the sale of honey and hive products.
Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum received $1,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide funding for repairs and upkeep of current exhibits, including; the Train Table, Farmers Market, and Beemazium Exhibits.
Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum received $500 from the Janice Cotter Endowment Fund to support the mission of the Museum which hosts over 40,000 visitors annually.
Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation – Nonprofit Service Center Fund received a $2,800 grant from the Gladys and Donald Mitchell Family Fund and the Rise Family Fund to help purchase the William and Janet Strickler Nonprofit Service Center.
Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $7,450 from the Esther Kraus Peacemaking Fund to send a counselor to the ‘Facing Race’ Conference in Detroit, MI. This grant will also utilize Persona Dolls which will be incorporated into Mindfulness Lessons.
The Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan received $2,700 grant from the Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, the Bovee Family Fund, and the Morning Sun Community Fund to provide a “home away from home” for families living in Isabella County who must travel to Grand Rapids for critical medical and mental health treatment for their children.
VSA Michigan received $1,800 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide 16 hours of learning through the arts for 224 receiving special education services through the Gratiot-Isabella RESD. This program will conclude with an exhibition of visual artwork created by the students, and demonstrations of the music that the students have created.
Women’s Aid Service, Inc. (R.I.S.E.) received $3,000 from the Women’s Aid Service Fund which will support rebranding. This rebrand will place a renewed emphasis on effective marketing and outreach with a new logo and website.
Women’s Aid Service, Inc. (R.I.S.E.) received $3,717.50 from the Olson Family Fund for support to update and renovate the main client restroom.
Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due January 23, 2019. For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.