Community Foundation announces 2026 Spring Community Grantees
Community Foundation Announces over $165,000 in Spring Community Grants
MT. PLEASANT, MI- The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is proud to announce the awards of $165,101 in Spring Community Grants to 25 organizations dedicated to improve the quality of life for residents throughout Isabella County.
“These grants demonstrate the power of local philanthropy and the lasting impact it has on our community,” said Liz Conway, CEO/COO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. “Through our donors’ generosity, lasting legacies have been created that continue to support meaningful work and inspire positive change throughout Isabella County.”
Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $3,000 for the Art Reach Youth Chorus program from the Women’s Initiative Fund.
WCMU - Central Michigan University received $10,250 for the Big Read Event featuring Sandra Cisneros from the Kellogg Youth Fund, the Linda Dielman Early Childhood Literacy Fund, and the Robert and Geraldine Krapohl Literacy Fund.
Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $5,328 to restore and improve the parking area at the Sylvan Solace Preserve from the Olson Family Fund and the Richard and Adonna Kennedy Memorial Fund.
Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $3,000 from the Community Impact Fund and the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund to provide emergency financial assistance during unexpected hardships.
Clothing INC received a total of $5,000 for the purchase of new towels and washcloths to distribute to Isabella County residents in need from the Barbara L. and George W. Dunn Family Fund, the David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund, the Fabiano Family Fund, the Howard P. Himes Fund, the Sherman C. and Shirley J. Rowley Family Fund, and the Weisenburger Family Fund.
Clothing INC additionally received $4,000 for the purchase of new children and youth clothing for distribution to Isabella County youth in need from the Community Impact Fund, the Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth, the Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund, the Gilmore Family Fund for Youth, and the Terra Lynn (Morey) Boone Memorial Fund.
Community Cancer Services of Isabella County received $5,000 from the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund to support medical mileage and travel reimbursement assistance for Isabella County cancer patients.
Creative Beginnings Child Development Center, Inc received $3,000 to assist in the installation of a new secure door access system within its facility from the Community Impact Fund, the Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund, and the Staples Family Fund.
EightCAP, Inc. received $10,000 from the Bovee Family Fund, the Denison Unrestricted Fund, the Fabiano Family Fund, and the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund to support the Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Fund.
First United Methodist Church received $10,000 to assist in the refurbishment of the elevator within the facility from the Bandit Industries Community Fund, the Barbara A. Bissot Fund, the Morning Sun Community Fund, the Sherwood Family Fund, the Sullivan Family Fund, and the Theunissen Family Fund.
Foster Closet of Isabella County received $800 from the Terra Lynn (Morey) Boone Memorial Fund for the purchase and distribution of personal care items to Isabella County female teens in foster care.
Foster Closet of Isabella County received $4,650 to establish and implement a monthly Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Parent Support Group in Isabella County from the Eunice A. Sutherland Burgess Fund for Youth, the Steve and Sue Pung Family Fund, and the William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund.
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan received $5,000 from the Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates and the Women’s Initiative Fund for the Girl Scouting in Isabella County program.
Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County received $5,000 to assist with the purchase of accessibility ramps for the Brush with Kindness Program from the Community Impact Fund, the Elizabeth Z. Miller & Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund, and the Joanne Golden Family Community Impact Fund.
Hope Childcare Center received $3,990 from the Community Impact Fund and the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund for the installation of new inline water filters to provide safer drinking water for children at the facility.
HopeWell Ranch received $4,999 for the purchase of a new mini excavator from the Community Impact Fund, the Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Fund, the McArthur Insurance Agency Fund for Weidman, and the McGuirk Family Fund.
Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $15,000 for their 6,000 Meals in 60 Days project, which aims to combat food insecurity by providing up to 100 free meals daily. Funding for this project is awarded from the Hersee Family Fund, the Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund, the Kay Smith Family Fund, the Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund, the Thomas A. Wittkopp Fund, and the William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund.
Isabella County Child Advocacy Center received $6,000 from the Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund, the Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, the Morning Sun Community Fund, and the Women’s Initiative Fund for the Canine Advocate project.
Lansing Spartans Youth Organization received $7,500 to support the purchase of a passenger van, helping reduce transportation barriers and expand youth access to safe sports from the Kellogg Youth Fund and the Zitzelsberger Family Fund.
Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Instrumental Music Boosters received $3,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the purchase of a new marching baritone instrument for the Mt. Pleasant Marching Band.
People Helping People of Isabella County received $10,000 from the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund, the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, and the Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund to provide 1,050 deli lunches on Sundays at Max & Emily’s Eatery, helping ensure continued access to meals when the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen is closed.
Shepherd Public Schools received $1,500 from the Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates for the Play with Purpose: Engaging Students through Esports program.
St. John’s Episcopal Church received $10,000 for the Space Sharing and Community Outreach project from the G. Charles and Janice L. Hubscher Fund, the James and Marilyn Bidwell Fund for Basic Human Needs, the Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, the Missy and Doug LaBelle Family Foundation Community Impact Fund, the Myler Family Community Impact Fund, the Schafer Community Impact Fund, and the W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund.
The Care Store received $10,000 from the Andy Wheeler Community Needs Fund, the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund, the John Neyer Family Fund, the L.A. and Marilyn B. Johns Family Fund, the Summit Petroleum Fund, and the Weisenburger Family Fund to provide a year’s supply of laundry products to Isabella County families experiencing financial hardship.
The Care Store additionally received $2,484 for the Clean with Care project from the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund and the Rapaport Family Fund.
Village of Shepherd received $6,000 from the Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates for the installation of a new flag and flagpole at Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown Shepherd on Wright Avenue.
West Midland Family Center received $5,000 to fund the Basic Needs Community Access program from the Kay Smith Family Fund, the Ranck Family Fund, and the Sally and John Goodrow Fund.
West Midland Family Center received $2,500 from the Women’s Initiative Fund for the Isabella County Preschool Family Support program, which will strengthen school readiness for preschool-aged children in rural Shepherd and Winn communities.
William and Janet Strickler Nonprofit Center received $1,300 to support building improvements that enhanced the safety of the facility from the Community Impact Fund and the Coyne Family Fund.
William and Janet Strickler Nonprofit Center received an additional $1,300 from the Coyne Family Fund for building improvements made to the facility’s restrooms.
Applications for the Fall Community Grant Cycle will open on July 1. For more information on grant eligibility and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, please visit www.mpacf.org.