Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Grants more than $30,000 in First Quarter

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved more than $30,000 in competitive grants to Isabella County organizations in its first 2012 grant cycle.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $871 from the Smith Community Fund for Art Walk Central, which will take place July 28-August 25, 2012. Art Walk Central is an art competition for adults and children that will utilize downtown public spaces as exhibit and performance space.

Bluejays for Excellence received $1,000 from the Shepherd Community Fund for the Shepherd Youth fifth and sixth grade football teams. The program now offers football at the seventh and eighth grade levels, for students who have participated in the program in the past.

Broomfield Township received $5,000 from the Jane McNamara & Louise Williams Fund and $3,000 from the Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund for the Halls Lake Park Improvement and Modernization Project. The township plans to replace existing pit toilet, bathhouse, and play structure, with an ADA-compliant vault style waterless toilet and an age appropriate play structure.

Central Michigan Chapter American Red Cross received $300 from the Lon Morey Family Fund for a fire scene grill and coolers. ARC also received $750 from the Women’s Initiative Fund to provide food for women with dependent children. These funds will help to purchase food and personal care items for distribution to women and their children who make requests through June 30, 2012.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $1,016 from the Kimber and Judy Dewitt Family Fund and the Elizabeth Z. Miller and Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund for Lower Pickens Field bleacher replacement.

Field Neurosciences Institute received $3,724 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Program. ThinkFirst for Kids (TFFK) is a six-week safety curriculum for students in third grade. The program teaches students to protect themselves from brain and spinal cord injuries.  Thanks to this grant, each Isabella County student participant will receive a free bike helmet at the end of the program.

Friends of Broadway received $300 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to host Greg Lester's Puppet Adventures 2012, featuring “Thumbelina” at the historic Broadway Theatre in downtown Mt. Pleasant. 

Gratiot-Isabella College Access Network received $3,000 from the Denison Fund for the G-ICAN! pilot program, whose mission is to increase the number of students in Isabella and Gratiot Counties who enroll in a postsecondary program to complete a recognized degree, certificate, or credential.

Isabella County Department of Human Services received $2,000 from the Kay Smith Family Fund for “Rides that Run,” a program to help low-income, working clients with auto repairs so they can continue to get to and from employment and remain self-sufficient.

Mt. Pleasant City Police Department received $673 from the Healthy Youth/Healthy Seniors Fund for a permanent prescription drug disposal box. A mailbox style box will be permanently located in the Mt. Pleasant City Police Department where patients can walk in and quickly and anonymously deposit unneeded, expired, or unwanted medicine during normal business hours.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $300 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for their Annual Fancher Elementary Mock Rock Performance that consists of lip-syncing and dancing. Approximately 75 students participate in this free event. Mock Rock consists of. All sets, props and costumes are donated, borrowed, or paid for by Todd Graham, a teacher at Fancher and the director of the show.

Sacred Heart Academy received $300 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for a Post-Prom Party. Every year, Sacred Heart Academy provides a post-prom event so students will have a safe, clean and chaperoned place to socialize after the dance.

The Salvation Army received $700 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for program cabinets. The Salvation Army currently has afterschool programs for youth on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Over 50 children come each week for educational and recreational activities. In a space-limited facility, the cabinets will provide much needed storage for supplies.

Shepherd Public Schools received $3,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and the Shepherd Community Fund for stadium seating around its baseball/softball fields. This grant will be used to provide a protective net to keep spectators safe from foul balls.

Ten Sixteen Recovery Network received $2,500 from the Lon Morey Family Fund for an Automatic External Defibrillator. The Ten Sixteen Recovery Network will purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and set up a storage area in a prominent location. The staff of the Ten Sixteen Recovery Network will receive training on how to use an AED, following American Red Cross guidelines.

Winn Area Activity Center received $1,799 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for outdoor/indoor physical activity equipment for use during the before- and after-school programs as well as the Summer Childcare Program.

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that serves as the center for philanthropy in Isabella County. The Foundation allows people, organizations, and businesses to make contributions to permanently endowed funds, which benefit the community now and forever. Grant applications are reviewed three times per year by various review committees comprised of community volunteers, and funding may come from any of approximately 200 endowed funds.