Community Foundation Announces more than $139,000 in Grants

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is thrilled to announce $139,805.61 in competitive grants to organizations making a significant impact in Isabella County.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $3,650 from the Fabiano Family Fund, John Neyer Family Fund, and Sherwood Family Fund to buy and install signage for Starks Preserve, Meridian Road Preserve, Winawa Preserve, and Hagen Preserve.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County was granted $8,000 from the Harkins Community Fund to provide essential household items to over 480 local households during the 2023 Christmas Outreach event in December.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $1,600 from the Mary Ellen Brandell Access to Recreation Fund for the purchase of an ADA-accessible picnic table at the Horizon Park Community Garden.

Clothing INC received $3,900 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, Morning Sun Community Fund, Ralph and Sonja Baumgarth Family Fund, and Rapaport Family Fund to purchase new clothing for males in need in Isabella County.

Clothing INC received $1,000 from the Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Fund and Missy and Doug LaBelle Family Foundation Community Impact Fund for the purchase of two Point of Sale systems.

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan was awarded $6,000 from the Barbara A. Bissot Fund, Kellogg Youth Fund, and Women's Initiative Fund for Girl Scouting through the PEAK program, which will provide access to educational programming for 150 Isabella County girls from resource-limited families.

Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan received $16,000 from the Community Impact Fund, Denison Unrestricted Fund, Hersee Family Fund, Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, and Women's Initiative Fund for roof updates to the Jane Harris Cabin.

Gratiot Isabella Technical Education Center received $1,500 from the Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates for student leadership in technical education, which will help cover student expenses.

HopeWell Ranch was granted $1,500 from the Women's Initiative Fund to offer a free workshop on human rights abuse, in partnership with R.I.S.E Advocacy, INC., Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant and Mid Michigan College.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $3,870 from the Myler Family Community Impact Fund, Ranck Family Fund, Staples Family Fund, and Thomas J. Sullivan Memorial Fund to support the purchase of 500 vaccines and rescue disinfectants for the Parvovirus Prevention project in Isabella County.

Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $8,000 from the Harkins Community Fund for the Food Sharing Program, which shares food with other local nonprofits and covers the delivery costs of providing hot lunches to nonprofits with guests who cannot get to the soup kitchen.

Isabella County Child Advocacy Center was granted $2,000 from the Women's Initiative Fund to provide transportation assistance in the form of gas cards to the caregivers of victims of child abuse and neglect.

Isabella County Commission on Aging received $5,922 from the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund for the purchase of dementia bracelets for individuals 60 years of age and older in Isabella County.

Isabella County Commission on Aging received $777.61 from the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund to provide medication lock bags and lock boxes for Isabella County seniors.

Isabella County Restoration House received $5,000 from the Harkins Community Fund to support local homeless women and their families by providing skill development training during their stay at the shelter.

Mid Central Area Health Education Center received $3,868 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates for the Health Careers Pipeline Program, which empowers local high school students to pursue careers in the health professions.

Mid-Michigan Industries was granted $6,500 from the Harkins Community Fund for the "Expanding Horizons" program, which provides local women with disabilities with the opportunity to expand their cultural horizons and experience day-to-day activities that will offer new skills, socialize with new friends and develop a greater sense of self.

Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum was granted $7,500 from the Access to Recreation Fund, Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund, James Dale Ervin Memorial Fund, Janet Maar Strickler Access to Recreation Fund, Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club Access to Recreation Fund, Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund for the “Mid-Michigan Mechanics” project which will promote the automotive and trade career fields and increase STEM learning opportunities for local youth.

Mount Pleasant Police Department received $4,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the Youth Police Academy, which is a program that provides hands-on learning about public safety for 24 local students.

Mt. Pleasant Little League received $3,468 from the Bovee Family Fund, David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund, Harkins Community Fund, and Theunissen Family Fund for the updates on two dugout roofs at Pickens Field, which will provide weather protection for local youth playing baseball.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $3,000 from the Harkins Community Fund will be used to provide sporting and fitness equipment for physical education at Ganiard and Vowles Elementary Schools.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Instrumental Music Boosters received $6,200 from the Andy Wheeler Community Needs Fund, Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth, Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund, Fisher Companies Community Impact Fund, Gilmore Family Fund for Youth, W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund, and Weisenburger Family Fund for the purchase of a new synthesizer and synthesizer cart for the Mt. Pleasant Public School bands and marching band.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation received $10,000 from the Access to Recreation Fund, Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund, James Dale Ervin Memorial Fund, Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club Access to Recreation Fund, Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, and Summit Petroleum Fund to build a permanent ADA accessible senior-friendly, outside structure at The Village of Rosebush Manor.

R.I.S.E. Advocacy Inc. was awarded $10,000 from the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund, Kay Smith Family Fund, Olson Family Fund, Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund, and Women's Initiative Fund to support staff training in mental health, trauma-informed advocacy, and domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy.

The Care Store received $5,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the Not Just Skin Deep project, which provides specialty skin care products for TCS guests.

Village of Shepherd was granted $4,050 from the Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates for the purchase of a drinking fountain to be installed along the walking path in the Village.

William and Janet Strickler Nonprofit Center received $7,500 from the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund, Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, Schafer Community Impact Fund, and William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund to improve front door accessibility to the building for tenant agency clients seeking services.

 Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due September 13, 2023. For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.