News — Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

For good. For ever.

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.

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More Than One Hundred Scholarships Available

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation (MPACF) is now accepting applications for more than one hundred (100) scholarships. Most are available to local students who will be completing their senior year of high school or GED this spring. There are also more than a dozen scholarship opportunities for students already enrolled in, or planning to return to, some form of higher education.  Frequently asked questions and a link to the online application system can be found at: www.mpacf.org.  The application deadline is Friday, March 8, 2019.

“Our goal is to receive qualified scholarship applications matching the specific criteria for all 103 scholarships available. If we meet that goal, $118,500 will be awarded to assist local students with their educational goals, thanks to the vision of the scholarship founders.” Cheryl Gaudard, Scholarship Committee Chair

Since 1990, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation (MPACF) has transformed the unique charitable dreams of individuals, families, and businesses into the reality of permanently endowed charitable funds that support a wide range of worthy causes in the community. One-third of the permanently endowed funds held by MPACF provide scholarships, making the Community Foundation a leader in awarding scholarships to deserving students in the local area. Last year, MPACF awarded 91 scholarships totally more than $87,000 to students in and around Isabella County.

Brittany helping a student

Over one hundred Scholarships Available

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation (MPACF) is now accepting applications for more than one hundred (100) scholarships. Most are available to local students who will be completing their senior year of high school or GED this spring. There are also more than a dozen scholarship opportunities for students already enrolled in, or planning to return to, some form of higher education.  Frequently asked questions and a link to the online application system can be found at: mpacf.org.  The application deadline is Friday, March 2, 2018.

Since 1990, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation (MPACF) has transformed the unique charitable dreams of individuals, families, and businesses into the reality of permanently endowed charitable funds that support a wide range of worthy causes in the community. One-third of the permanently endowed funds held by MPACF provide scholarships, making the Community Foundation a leader in awarding scholarships to deserving students in the local area. Last year, MPACF awarded 90 scholarships totally more than $87,250 to students in and around Isabella County (photo below).

Scholarship recipients group photo

Community Foundation Grants $53,103.50

Community Mental Health for Central Michigan grant recipients with check

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded more than $53,000 in grants to organizations impacting Isabella County.

Central Michigan University’s Museum of Cultural and Natural History received $5,000 from the John R. and Constance M. Harkins Community Fund to support school field trip busing.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $185 from the Steve and Sue Pung Family Fund to print rack cards for promoting visitor use of 22 preserves complete with names, locations, visitor access information and suggested activities.

Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $2,500 from the Community Impact Fund and $2,500 from the Women's Initiative Fund to provide a weekly support group, led by licensed counselors, for local women experiencing issues related to postpartum mental health.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Boy Scouts of America Venture Crew 7648 received $600 from the Bob and Nancy Wheeler Fund for Scouting to provide bike trailers for a high adventure trip.

Community Mental Health for Central Michigan received $1,500 from the Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, $500 from the Bovee Family Fund, $1,000 from the Community Impact Fund, $2,000 from the Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund and $3,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide Multisystemic Therapy, a treatment model for adolescents experiencing Severe Emotional Disturbance or a Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. This program works to rehabilitate young people within their own community.

The Dictionary Project received $1,600 from the Kiwanis Club of Mt. Pleasant Fund to provide a dictionary for each 3rd grade student in Isabella County.

First United Methodist Church Boy Scouts of America Troop 604 received $100 from the Bob and Nancy Wheeler Fund for Scouting to support summer camp.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $1,211.71 from the LaBelle Family Fund to support the mission of HATS.

Isabella Citizens for Health received $1,210 from the Bandit Industries Community Fund and $1,210 from the Community Impact Fund to purchase two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for both their Family Medicine and Pediatric clinics.

Isabella County Parks and Recreation received $10,000 from the Rise Family Fund to plant trees and preserve natural spaces in Coldwater Lake Park.

McBride Quality Care Services received $1,359.79 from the Community Impact Fund and $1,300 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to replace broken cafeteria tables.

Mid Michigan Community College Foundation received $1,413 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and $1,000 for the Women’s Initiative Fund to support the Isabella County 8th Grade Girls’ CHAT (Character, Heart, Attributes, and Talents) Luncheon. This event, in its second year at the MMCC Isabella County Campus, focuses on introducing students to a college campus, with an emphasis on the options and opportunities that await them in post-secondary education, specifically areas of STEM.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum received $1,000 from the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, $1,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, and $500 from the Ranck Family Fund to support a new museum exhibit focused on engaging with the environment through camping.

Mt. Pleasant Fire Department received $600 from the Isabella County First Responders Fund to support a 40 hour basic fire investigation class for members of Isabella County Fire Departments. This course will equip fire fighters with the skills needed to determine the causes and origination points of fires.        

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $880 from the Chris Maniteau Memorial Wrestling Fund to send members of the Mt. Pleasant High School wrestling team to a CMU team camp.

Project Weidman received $4,108 from the Access to Recreation Fund, $659 from the Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund, $711 from the Mary Ellen Brandell Access to Recreation Fund and $1,191 from the Janet Maar Strickler Access to Recreation Fund to build a new playground structure in the heart of Weidman.

Sacred Heart Parish received $965 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to purchase an Earthquake Tremor Table, which will allow students to build structures and compete to see whose structure best withstands an earthquake.

Shepherd United Methodist Church Boy Scouts of America Troop 623 received $300 from the Bob and Nancy Wheeler Fund for Scouting to repair the troop’s equipment trailer.

Women's Aid Service, Inc. received $1,500 from the Women's Initiative Fund to support the restoration of the shelter’s front steps, which have been a safety hazard, especially during the winter months.

Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due September 27, 2017. For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.

Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Awards 2017 Scholarships

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation (MPACF) will award 91 scholarships totaling more than $87,000 to local students during a Scholarship Reception on May 23, 2017. Established by individuals, businesses, and organizations wanting to help local students achieve their educational goals, most scholarships support high school students planning to attend an accredited college, university or trade school in the fall. Each scholarship is unique and reflects the values and interests of those who established it.

For more information or to support any one of these scholarships, contact Brittany Sherrill, Program Officer, at (989) 773-7322 or visit www.mpacf.org.

The 2017 Community Foundation Scholarship Recipients are:

2017 Scholarship recipient list

More than 100 Scholarships Available

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is now accepting applications for more than one hundred scholarships. Most are available to local students who will be completing their senior year of high school or GED this spring. There are also a dozen scholarship opportunities for students already enrolled in, or planning to return to, some form of higher education.  Frequently asked questions and a link to the online application system can be found under the Scholarship Tab. The application deadline is Friday, March 3, 2017.

Since 1990, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation has transformed the unique charitable dreams of individuals, families, and businesses into the reality of permanently endowed charitable funds that support a wide range of worthy causes in the community. One-third of the permanently endowed funds held by MPACF provide scholarships, making the Community Foundation a leader in awarding scholarships to deserving students in the local area. Last year, MPACF awarded 93 scholarships totally more than $94,000 to students in and around Isabella County. 

2016 MPACF Scholarship Reception

Community Foundation Grants Exceed $560,000 in 2016

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded more than $105,000 in grants to organizations impacting Isabella County, making the total awarded in 2016 more than $560,000.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $1,356.00 from the Russ Herron Poetry Fund for the Wellspring Literary Series.

Central Michigan District Health Department received $5,303.51 from the Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund to support a computer upgrade for electronic medical records.

Character Programs received $6,500.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for Anti-Bullying Speaker Tom Thelan, who will present to Isabella County 7-12 grade students about how to respond to bullying.

Christmas Outreach received $900.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, $2,256.34 from the Women's Initiative Fund, $2,700.00 from the Hersee Family Fund, $1,600.00 from the David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund, and $543.66 from the Sullivan Family Fund to purchase children’s books and winter coats.  

City of Mt. Pleasant received $10,000.00 from the Community Impact Fund, $8,500.00 from the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, $1,000.00 from the Optimist Club of Mt. Pleasant Fund, and $5,500.00 from the Kay Smith Family Fund, to support Timber Town 2.0, replacing the playscape in Island Park.

Community Compassion Network received $1,113.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, $1,287.00 from the Elizabeth Z. Miller & Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund, $1,600.00 from the Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund, and $1,000.00 from the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund to provide supplemental food assistance.

Community Compassion Network received $3,000.00 from the Women's Initiative Fund to purchase diapers for the William Ellis Brockman Infant Pantry.

EightCAP received $1,500.00 from the Continuum Homelessness Grant Fund to cover costs of emergency shelter when other homeless resources are not an option.

Friends of the Broadway received $6,480.00 from the Community Impact Fund for capacity building in the areas of strategic planning and fund development.

Friends of the Library received $2,238.19 from the Friends of the Library Fund for upgrades so that guests can download movies, TV shows, music and audiobooks to computers, smart phones, and tablets.

Gratiot-Isabella RESD received $1,950.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, $850.00 from the Staples Family Fund, and $1,100.00 from the Theunissen Family Fund to enroll 150 children in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program.

Great Lakes Bay Foundation received $6,400.00 from the Denison Unrestricted Fund, $2,400.00 from the G. Charles and Janice L. Hubscher Fund, $3,000.00 from the Morey Foundation Donor Advised Fund, and $3,200.00 from the W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund to provide Isabella County Middle School math students with STEM curriculum tailored for each classroom.

Habitat for Humanity received $1,500.00 from the Lon Morey Family Fund, $500.00 from the John Neyer Family Fund, and $3,000.00 from the Weisenburger Family Fund for an exterior home preservation program that helps low-income homeowners.

Isabella Citizens for Health received $693.00 from the Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund for a sharps disposal education program.

Lincoln Township of Isabella County received $1,500.00 from the Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund and $1,000.00 from the Janet Maar Strickler Access to Recreation Fund to provide a handicap accessible sidewalk from the picnic pavilion to the Lincoln Township Hall.

Listening Ear Crisis Center received $2,000.00 from the Listening Ear Consumer Needs and Dreams Fund for medical needs of consumers as well as a consumer led micro-enterprise business.

Montabella Community Schools received $493.00 from the Montabella Community Schools Education Fund for startup art supplies for a new elective class at the elementary school.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum received $1,300.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and $3,200.00 from the Community Impact Fund to install a new Light Room Exploration exhibit.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $300.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for support of the Junie B. Jones Play Production that toured Isabella County elementary schools.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $300.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for “Students of Promise,” a project that provides homeless youth with tokens to launder their clothes at a local laundry mat.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Education Foundation received $2,500.00 from the John R. and Constance M. Harkins Community Fund to further grow their endowment for the future.

Shepherd Public Schools received $1,000.00 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide food assistance for students in need during extended school breaks.

Shepherd Railroad Museum Association received $546.00 from the Shepherd Community Fund in Honor of Robert Bates to replace the windows in the Shepherd Caboose.

Village of Shepherd received $2,162.00 from the Shepherd Community Fund in Honor of Robert Bates to decorate Downtown Shepherd with garland this holiday season.

Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due January 25, 2017. For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.