Community Foundation Announces Over $215,000 in Community Grants

Community Foundation Announces Over $215,000 in Community Grants

MT. PLEASANT, MI – The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation has awarded $215,695 in community grants to local and regional organizations working to support children and families, advancing education, improving health and wellness, strengthening community spaces, expanding transportation access, and addressing other important needs throughout Isabella County.

“These grants reflect the power of investing in the people and organizations that make our community thrive,” said Liz Conway, CEO/COO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. “Because of our donors’ generosity, local organizations can continue their important work and build a stronger, more vibrant future for Isabella County.”

211 Northeast Michigan was awarded $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund and Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund to increase the capacity of its 24/7 resource navigation call center through call specialist staffing, training, and ongoing support. The center connects community members with available resources and services.

American Red Cross of Mid-Michigan received $5,000 to support a community blood drive in Isabella County from the Community Impact Fund and Hersee Family Fund.

Central Michigan Robotics Association received $8,315 from the Community Impact Fund, Kellogg Youth Fund, and Rise Family Fund to purchase and register a trailer to safely transport robots, tools, and equipment to competitions, practices, and outreach events.

Central Michigan University was awarded $18,000 from the Harkins Community Fund for the America Counts and Reads program, which provides individualized reading and mathematics assistance to local elementary students.

Chippewa River District Library received $10,000 from the Community Impact Fund to furnish a new story time room, creating a welcoming and functional space for children and families.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County received $1,200 for its Access to Transportation: Improving Life Satisfaction initiative from the Langlois Family Fund.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County was also awarded $2,400 to purchase graphic novels for children and youth from the Kellogg Youth Fund and Women's Initiative Fund.

Community Cancer Services of Isabella County received $10,000 from the Community Impact Fund, Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund, and W.E. Martin Fund to provide medical mileage and travel reimbursement assistance to cancer patients in Isabella County.

Community Compassion Network received $2,500 from the Women’s Initiative Fund to purchase diapers, formula, wipes, baby food, and other essential care products for distribution through the William Ellis Brockman Infant Pantry.

Cultural & Recreational Commission of Isabella County received $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund and W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund for its Repurposed Recreation and Community Space project at Morey Courts, which will convert Court 3 Bay into a flexible event and activity space for children.

Foster Closet of Isabella County was awarded $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund for its Beyond Adoption Support program for young adults.

Friends of the Broadway received $20,000 from the Harkins Community Fund and Morey Foundation Fund to restore year-round climate control at the Historic Broadway Theater.

Frontline Training Access Initiative received $10,000 from the Community Impact Fund, Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, Tim and Mary Ann O'Neil Community Impact Fund, and William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund for Every Response Matters: Isabella County Behavioral Health & Disability Response initiative. Funding will support specialized training for Isabella County law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and dispatch personnel at no cost to participating agencies.

Girls on the Run Great Lakes Bay received $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund, Kellogg Youth Fund, Tumbl Trak Fund for Youth Fitness in Honor of Doug Davis and Diana Hughes, and Women's Initiative Fund to reintroduce its programming in Isabella County and expand access at seven school locations.

HopeWell Ranch was awarded $4,500 from the W.E. Martin Fund to remodel an existing office building with an ADA-compliant bathroom featuring an accessible shower, toilet, sink, and grab bars, as well as an exterior ramp.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $15,000 to replace essential equipment and supplies in the spay/neuter clinic from the Rise Family Fund.

Humane Animal Treatment Society also received $5,793 from the Harkins Community Fund to replace aging canine and feline beds and add durable enrichment and play equipment.

Isabella County Child Advocacy Center received $4,000 from the Women's Initiative Fund and Langlois Family Fund for the Infant Safety & Care project, which will provide essential infant safety resources to families in Isabella County.

Isabella County Commission on Aging was awarded $4,000 from the Community Impact Fund and Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund to support Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) for Isabella County seniors.

Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan received $5,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to provide K-12 financial literacy and career readiness learning experiences for school-aged youth in Isabella County.

Lansing Spartans Youth Organization received $1,000 from the Zitzelsberger Family Fund for a hydration and refueling station that will provide students with access to healthy food and beverages during after-school programming.

Mid-Michigan Industries was awarded $4,144 from the Community Impact Fund, Kaufmann/Sauter Family Fund, and Ralph and Sonja Baumgarth Family Fund for its Community Connections program. The program helps individuals with disabilities overcome transportation, financial, and accessibility barriers that may limit participation in community life.

Mid-Michigan Industries also received $7,500 from the Community Impact Fund and Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund to help offset transportation costs associated with providing community-based services to individuals with disabilities throughout the county.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum was awarded $5,000 from the Lon Morey Family Fund and from Keith E. And Patricia L. Feight Fund for the Dino Dig project, an interactive exhibit offering children hands-on opportunities to learn about dinosaurs and paleontology.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum also received $1,500 from the Community Impact Fund and Kay Smith Family Fund to support engineered mounting hardware expenses for its PleasANT Park Forest Canopy project.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation received $16,143 from the Lon Morey Family Fund to construct a fully covered front portico at the Village of Rosebush Manor.

Rayola Inc was awarded $2,000 from the Mt. Pleasant Optimist Club Fund to provide care packages to Isabella County youth in foster care.

R.I.S.E. Advocacy Inc. was awarded $10,000 from the W.E. Martin Fund for technology and communication upgrades.

Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan received $10,000 from the W.E. Martin Fund to support daily operations of the Family Support Program.

Sleepy Dog Books Foundation was awarded $2,200 from the Community Impact Fund and the Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund for the Mt. Pleasant Storybook Trial project. Funding will support printing passports and developing a digital passport challenge within the CVB’s existing Meet Mt. Pleasant app.

Stepping Stones Cat Rescue received $3,000 from the Community Impact Fund and Fisher Companies Community Impact Fund to cover spay and neuter expenses.

United Way of Greater Central Michigan was awarded $2,500 for the Rural Pop-Up Diaper Distribution project from the Community Impact Fund and Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund.

Wesley Foundation at Central Michigan University received $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund to help cover the costs associated with replacing the Community Hub facility.

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation connects people who care about causes that matter, helping donors support the organizations and initiatives that strengthen Isabella County. Through its charitable funds and grantmaking programs, the Foundation works to enhance quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come.

For more information about the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and its grantmaking programs, visit the Foundation's website: www.mpacf.org.