The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded $182,018 in competitive grants to organizations dedicated to serving Isabella County.
“These grants are a powerful reminder of how individual generosity can transform lives,” said Liz Conway, CEO/COO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. “Our donors wanted to leave a lasting legacy, and through these grants they’re doing exactly that. The ripple effect of their philanthropy is both meaningful and inspiring.”
Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $6,000 from the Bandit Industries Community Fund, the Schafer Community Impact Fund and the Fabiano Family Fund for the Art Reach Youth Chorus.
Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $10,000 for the Nature Preserves Parking Infrastructure Project from the Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund; the William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund; the Weisenburger Family Fund; the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund and the Richard and Adonna Kennedy Memorial Fund.
Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $7,488 for its “Turning Point For Teens” program from the Kellogg Youth Fund and the Women’s Initiative Fund.
Community Cancer Services received $10,000 from the Olson Family Fund; the W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund; the Andy Wheeler Community Needs Fund and the Sally and John Goodrow Fund to provide much needed travel and lodging assistance for families undergoing cancer treatment.
Community Compassion Network received $2,000 to purchase infant and toddler formula for the infant pantry from the Women’s Initiative Fund.
Cultural & Recreational Commission of Isabella County received $5,971 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for “Blades for All” which will support the purchase of new ice skates and helmets for the 2nd Grade Skating Program.
Foster Closet of Isabella County received $2,500 for Foster Family Activity Days from the Eunice A. Sutherland Burgess Fund for Youth.
Friends of the Broadway received $33,450 from the Lon Morey Family Fund; Barbara A. Bissot Fund; the Community Impact Fund; the Hersee Family Fund and the Kay Smith Family Fund to revitalize the historic theater and enhance the local economy and culture through arts.
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan received $4,000 from the Women’s Initiative Fund for membership fees so that all young girls can participate in scouting, regardless of their financial status.
Hope Childcare Center received $6,000 from the Coyne Family Fund for the installation of a fence around the new facility to ensure safe outdoor play.
Hope Network Michigan Education Corps received $2,500 from the Langlois Family Fund in support of a program that will close the math achievement gap at Fancher and McGuire Elementary Schools.
Hopewell Ranch received $4,582 for the Operation EZ Access project from the Elizabeth Z. Miller & Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund; the Thompson-Blackmer VFW Post 4106 Community Fund; the McArthur Insurance Agency Fund for Weidman; the Rapaport Family Fund and the Thomas A. Wittkopp Fund.
Humane Animal Treatment Society received $5,000 to support the purchase of much needed animal food and new crates from the Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund; the Staples Family Fund; the Joanne Golden Family Community Impact Fund; the Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund and the Sullivan Family Fund.
Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $10,000 from the Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund; the Denison Unrestricted Fund; the Community Impact Fund; the G. Charles and Janice L. Hubscher Fund and the John and Sue Bradac Family Emergency Fund for the replacement of its steamtables used for serving food.
Isabella County Child Advocacy Center received $5,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund and Women’s Initiative Fund for facility and family resource improvements and another $1,500 from the Women’s Initiative Fund for trauma-informed parenting education and support classes.
Isabella County Material Recovery Facility received $5,000 from an anonymous fund for its “Waste Less, Grow More: Sustainable Food Waste Management for a Greener Future” program.
Isabella County Parks and Recreation received $12,000 toward the Deerfield Nature Park fishing platform renovation from the Access to Recreation Fund, the Janet Maar Strickler Access to Recreation Fund and the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club Access to Recreation Fund.
Isabella County Restoration House received $5,000 to support essential summer services for homeless guests from the Sally and John Goodrow Fund, the James and Marilyn Bidwell Fund for Basic Human Needs and the Terra Lynn (Morey) Boone Memorial Fund.
Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum received $5,000 for friendship field updates from the Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth; the Keith E. and Patricia L. Feight Fund; the Gilmore Family Fund for Youth; the Access to Recreation Fund and the Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund.
Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc. received $4,000 from the Rise Family Fund to replace two vibraphone field frames for the marching band.
People Helping People of Isabella County received $10,000 from the Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund; the Coyne Family Fund; the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund; the Sherwood Family fund and the Barbara L. and George W. Dunn Family Fund to assist in providing Sunday lunch at Max & Emily's for Isabella Community Soup Kitchen guests.
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan received $18,720 from the Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund; the Summit Petroleum Fund; the Missy and Doug LaBelle Family Foundation Community Impact Fund; the John Neyer Family Fund and an anonymous fund for digitization and preservation of Mt. Pleasant Industrial Boarding School records.
Scouting America, Michigan Crossroads Council received $2,000 to cover membership fees for Isabella County youth from the David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund, the Morning Sun Community Fund and the Howard P. Himes Fund.
United Way of Greater Central Michigan received $4,307 from the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund for childcare assistance through its ALICE Support Fund.
Applications for the next competitive grant cycle will open on August 1. For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, please visit our Grants page.