Community Foundation Makes Twenty-Four Grants

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $125,961 in grants to 24 organizations making an impact in Isabella County.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $600 from the Russ Herron Poetry Fund to offer an 8-week poetry workshop for Isabella County youth.

Big Brother Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region received $2,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to support a virtual pivot of their one-to-one mentoring programs for at-risk youth in Isabella County.

Chippewa River District Library received $9,665 from the James Dale Ervin Memorial Fund, Robert and Geraldine Krapohl Literacy Fund, and Mary Ellen Brandell Access to Recreation Fund to install StoryWalk in Rosebush’s Isabella Township Park. StoryWalk is an outdoor reading experience that encourages physical activity while increasing literacy skills.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $1,500 from the Morning Sun Community Fund to purchase a generator and power tools to assist with maintenance and stewardship projects at its nature preserves.

Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $3,000 from the Tim and Teresa Coscarelly Family Fund to support the purchase of a new building.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County received $2,000 from the Women’s Initiative Fund to provide gift bags containing personal and school supplies to teen girls whose families register with the organization.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $556 from the Feight Community Improvement Fund to paint the High Street bridge pump house.

Clothing INC received $600 from the Tim and Mary Ann O’Neil Community Impact Fund to purchase signage that will improve communication with guests picking up orders, and to purchase child-sized and pinch hangers to place more clothing on racks.

Community Cancer Services received $20,000 from the Harkins Community Fund to provide financial assistance to Isabella County cancer patients.

Cooperative Development Fund received $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund to support the expansion of GreenTree Cooperative Grocery in downtown Mt. Pleasant.

Cultural and Recreational Commission of Isabella County received $3,500 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to replace current drinking fountains with a bottle filling station.

First United Methodist Church received $4,000 from the Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund and Summit Petroleum Fund to purchase protein foods for the Little Downtown Pantry.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $1,000 from the Thomas R. and Judith D. Sullivan Fund to support the “Racin’ for Rescues” fundraiser.

Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $10,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County and Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund to purchase supplies needed to continue providing free, packaged takeout meals.

Isabella County Restoration House received $5,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to provide additional services, screenings, isolation and supplies needed to shelter homeless individuals this winter. 

Mid Central Area Health Education Center received $3,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to support the Health Careers Pipeline Program, which empowers high school students to pursue careers in the health professions.

Mid Michigan Industries received $5,000 from the Fisher Companies Community Impact Fund, Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, and Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund to purchase technology for people with disabilities in an effort to facilitate social inclusion.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum received $5,000 from the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund, Schafer Community Impact Fund, and Staples Family Fund for the construction of the “3, 2, 1…Blast Off!” exhibit. The exhibit will be a space-themed, multi-story, interactive climbing structure with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) components.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation (PACE Central Michigan) received $2,400 from the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund, Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund, and Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund to purchase Walk Wise units for isolated Isabella County seniors. Walk Wise is an attachment that tracks movement through a mobility aid, such as a cane or walker, and will alert PACE Central Michigan staff if there is unusual movement (too little or too much) that may suggest illness or a fall.

R.I.S.E. Advocacy received $3,750 from the Women's Initiative Fund to update their playground area to benefit the children of survivors who have had to utilize shelter services to escape domestic violence.

Renaissance Public School Academy received $7,890 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to purchase percussion and band instruments for the PreK-8 music education program.

Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan received $3,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to help families living in Isabella County who must travel to Grand Rapids for critical medical and mental health treatment for their children.

The Care Store received $8,000 from the Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, Fabiano Family Fund, Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund, and Community Impact Fund to purchase flooring and shelving supplies for their renovated space, making it more user-friendly for those with physical limitations.

Village of Shepherd received $18,500 from the Shepherd Area Community Fund in Honor of Robert H. Bates and Access to Recreation Fund to support the construction of a splash park.

For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.