Community Foundation Welcomes New Director

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of Robert Long as a director to its Board.

Mr. Long returns to the Board of Directors after serving from 2009 to 2019. He was previously on the Foundation’s Executive, Scholarship, and Governance/Board Development Committees, and served as President of the organization in 2014. Mr. Long will continue his service on the Foundation’s Facilities Committee as well as join the Finance Committee.

As a lifelong resident of Mt. Pleasant, Mr. Long earned his bachelor’s degree from Alma College. He owned and operated Summit Petroleum Corporation until his retirement in 2018. He has been very active in the Michigan Oil and Gas Association over the years, serving as MOGA President in 2012-2013.

Mr. Long’s generosity over the years led to the creation of the Bob and Jeanne Long Hospice House Fund, the Special Olympics Michigan Fund, and the Summit Petroleum Fund—all endowment funds established within the Foundation to meet community needs in perpetuity. He and his wife Jeanne have two grown children, and recently become grandparents. Jeanne is an active member of the Women’s Initiative Committee.

As a director, Mr. Long re-joins twenty three other community members who represent a wide range of professional expertise and organizational experience: Paul Alexander, Damon Brown, Angie Evans, Joe Fleming, Cheryl Guadard, Dyke Heinze, Eileen Jennings, John Jensen, Dave Keilitz, Rick McGuirk, Linda Morey, Marcie Otteman, Emma Powell, Steve Pung, Nancy Ridley, Erika Ross, Brian Rush, Matthew Showalter, Mark Smith, Michelle Sponseller, Jan Strickler, and Bob Wheeler. The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that seeks 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. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.mpacf.org.

Community Foundation Announces Twenty New Grant Awards

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $131,391 in competitive grants to organizations making an impact in Isabella County.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $1,000 from the Russ Herron Poetry Fund to offer an 8-week poetry workshop for Isabella County youth.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $655 from the Theunissen Family Fund to assist with funding of the Coldwater Family Art Camp.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $3,575 from the Andy Wheeler Community Needs Fund, Joanne Golden Family Community Impact Fund, and W. Sidney Smith and Judith French Smith Family Fund to install customized informational signs at Neyer Preserve, Winifred Sponseller Preserve, and Hiawatha Hills Preserve.

Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $2,000 from the Harold and Milli Verleger Family Fund to provide mental health services to adolescents who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County received $3,000 from the Harold and Milli Verleger Family Fund to purchase 200 pairs of snow pants for youth.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $9,000 from the Bandit Industries Community Fund, Denison Unrestricted Fund, G. Charles and Janice L. Hubscher Fund, Morning Sun Community Fund, Myler Family Community Impact Fund, and Rapaport Family Fund to purchase picnic tables for Broadway Central.

Cultural and Recreational Commission of Isabella County received $4,000 from the Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Fund, Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund, Staples Family Fund, and Weisenburger Family Fund to renovate and modify the Kid’s Club room to establish consistent and accelerated youth programming.

Fremont Township of Isabella County received $28,666 from the Access to Recreation Fund, Brewster Family Access to Recreation Fund, Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth, Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund, Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, Janet Maar Strickler Access to Recreation Fund, Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, Kay Smith Family Fund, Kellogg Youth Fund, Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund, and Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club Access to Recreation Fund to replace existing equipment with a playground development that meets current federal Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines and product safety standards. It will provide area youth with a fun, challenging, and inclusive play environment.

Friends of the Dog Park received $3,000 from the Fabiano Family Fund, John Neyer Family Fund, and Schafer Community Impact Fund which will allow for the installation and maintenance of lighting in Hannah’s Bark Park. Lighting in the park is to increase accessibility and usage of the park in the morning and evening hours.

Girls Scouts Heart of Michigan received $5,000 from the Women’s Initiative Fund for their Girl Scouting through PEAK program. The program gives girls from limited resource families access to girls only programming focusing on reading, STEM, and positive social connecting in a safe, supportive environment.

HopeWell Ranch received $3,445 from the Access to Recreation Fund for the purchase of an Equicizer to conduct therapeutic exercises and therapies for children and adults with a variety of disabilities.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $5,000 from the Barbara A. Bissot Fund, Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund, Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, and Sherwood Family Fund to support the HATS Health Clinic with providing 160 free spay and neuter surgeries for cats in Isabella County to assist with reducing feline overpopulation within the community.

Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $20,000 from the Barbara L. and George W. Dunn Family Fund, Community Impact Fund, Fisher Companies Community Impact Fund, Hersee Family Fund, Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund, John and Sue Bradac Family Emergency Fund, John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund, Missy and Doug LaBelle Family Foundation Community Impact Fund, Ranck Family Fund, Sally and John Goodrow Fund, and Steve and Sue Pung Family Fund to renovate the existing kitchen with new flooring and commercial grade equipment to continue their ability to provide free meals to community members.

Isabella County Child Advocacy Center received $3,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the Protect Yourself 2.0 program. The program is a series of educational lessons for third-grade students in Isabella County on how to recognize and respond to the potential dangers of internet and social media usage.

Michigan Arts Access received $5,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the Artists-in-Residence program. This program promotes learning through music and the arts for students receiving special education services in Isabella County through the Gratiot-Isabella RESD.

Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum received $11,000 from the Bovee Family Fund, Community Impact Fund, David B. and Susan K. Keilitz Family Fund, Elizabeth Z. Miller & Bruce H. LaPointe Community Needs Fund, Kellogg Youth Fund, Ralph and Sonja Baumgarth Family Fund, William and Janet Maar Strickler Community Impact Fund for the construction of the “3, 2, 1…Blast Off!” exhibit. The exhibit will be a space themed, multi-story, interactive climbing structure with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) components.

St. Vincent dePaul Parish of Shepherd received $2,000 from the Shepherd Area Community Fund in Honor of Robert H. Bates to support the construction of an electronic messaging sign.

The Salvation Army received $15,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to purchase a new walk-in refrigerator and freezer unit for their food pantry.

United Way of Gratiot and Isabella Counties – Trees Now Isabella received $4,050 from the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund to purchase and plant trees to beautify the grounds along the walking path of the Isabella County Commission on Aging.

Village of Shepherd received $3,000 from the Shepherd Area Community Fund in Honor of Robert H. Bates for the purchase of a Bluejay cannon for the splash park.

Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due September 22, 2021. For more information on grant eligibility or ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit mpacf.org.

Community Foundation Makes Twenty-Four Grants

The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $125,961 in grants to 24 organizations making an impact in Isabella County.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $600 from the Russ Herron Poetry Fund to offer an 8-week poetry workshop for Isabella County youth.

Big Brother Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region received $2,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to support a virtual pivot of their one-to-one mentoring programs for at-risk youth in Isabella County.

Chippewa River District Library received $9,665 from the James Dale Ervin Memorial Fund, Robert and Geraldine Krapohl Literacy Fund, and Mary Ellen Brandell Access to Recreation Fund to install StoryWalk in Rosebush’s Isabella Township Park. StoryWalk is an outdoor reading experience that encourages physical activity while increasing literacy skills.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy received $1,500 from the Morning Sun Community Fund to purchase a generator and power tools to assist with maintenance and stewardship projects at its nature preserves.

Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $3,000 from the Tim and Teresa Coscarelly Family Fund to support the purchase of a new building.

Christmas Outreach of Isabella County received $2,000 from the Women’s Initiative Fund to provide gift bags containing personal and school supplies to teen girls whose families register with the organization.

City of Mt. Pleasant received $556 from the Feight Community Improvement Fund to paint the High Street bridge pump house.

Clothing INC received $600 from the Tim and Mary Ann O’Neil Community Impact Fund to purchase signage that will improve communication with guests picking up orders, and to purchase child-sized and pinch hangers to place more clothing on racks.

Community Cancer Services received $20,000 from the Harkins Community Fund to provide financial assistance to Isabella County cancer patients.

Cooperative Development Fund received $5,000 from the Community Impact Fund to support the expansion of GreenTree Cooperative Grocery in downtown Mt. Pleasant.

Cultural and Recreational Commission of Isabella County received $3,500 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to replace current drinking fountains with a bottle filling station.

First United Methodist Church received $4,000 from the Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund and Summit Petroleum Fund to purchase protein foods for the Little Downtown Pantry.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $1,000 from the Thomas R. and Judith D. Sullivan Fund to support the “Racin’ for Rescues” fundraiser.

Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received $10,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County and Mt. Pleasant Oil Industry Food Pantry Fund to purchase supplies needed to continue providing free, packaged takeout meals.

Isabella County Restoration House received $5,000 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to provide additional services, screenings, isolation and supplies needed to shelter homeless individuals this winter. 

Mid Central Area Health Education Center received $3,500 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to support the Health Careers Pipeline Program, which empowers high school students to pursue careers in the health professions.

Mid Michigan Industries received $5,000 from the Fisher Companies Community Impact Fund, Jane McNamara and Louise Williams Fund, and Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund to purchase technology for people with disabilities in an effort to facilitate social inclusion.

Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum received $5,000 from the John P. and Ann S. Jensen Community Impact Fund, Schafer Community Impact Fund, and Staples Family Fund for the construction of the “3, 2, 1…Blast Off!” exhibit. The exhibit will be a space-themed, multi-story, interactive climbing structure with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) components.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation (PACE Central Michigan) received $2,400 from the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund, Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund, and Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund to purchase Walk Wise units for isolated Isabella County seniors. Walk Wise is an attachment that tracks movement through a mobility aid, such as a cane or walker, and will alert PACE Central Michigan staff if there is unusual movement (too little or too much) that may suggest illness or a fall.

R.I.S.E. Advocacy received $3,750 from the Women's Initiative Fund to update their playground area to benefit the children of survivors who have had to utilize shelter services to escape domestic violence.

Renaissance Public School Academy received $7,890 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to purchase percussion and band instruments for the PreK-8 music education program.

Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan received $3,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to help families living in Isabella County who must travel to Grand Rapids for critical medical and mental health treatment for their children.

The Care Store received $8,000 from the Ruth S. and Gerard R. Felter and Florence F. Battenfeld Family Fund, Fabiano Family Fund, Jerry M. and Marilyn A. Morey Community Fund, Michael D. and Dianne C. Morey Community Needs Fund, and Community Impact Fund to purchase flooring and shelving supplies for their renovated space, making it more user-friendly for those with physical limitations.

Village of Shepherd received $18,500 from the Shepherd Area Community Fund in Honor of Robert H. Bates and Access to Recreation Fund to support the construction of a splash park.

For more information on grant eligibility, and ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit www.mpacf.org.

Community Foundation Awards Nearly $59,000 in Competitive Grants

MT. PLEASANT, MI - The Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $58,457 in competitive grants to organizations making an impact in Isabella County.

Art Reach of Mid Michigan received $4,550 from the Kellogg Youth Fund, Barbara A. Bissot Fund, and Ranck Family Fund to offer an increased number of free make-and-take crafts, as well as scholarships for adults and youth taking tuition based classes.

The Care Store received $8,500 from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Isabella County to purchase full-size household cleaning supplies that will be necessary to return to normal operations.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, Inc. received $5,000 from the Denison Unrestricted Fund and Dr. Leonard E. and Louise A. Plachta Unrestricted Fund to upgrade their office technology.

Christian Counseling of Mid Michigan received $4,105 from the Women’s Initiative Fund for the Telehealth Services Program. This program provides outpatient mental health services to clients through telephone calls or video conferencing meetings.

Clothing INC received $1,882 from the Staples Family Fund to better utilize their expanded office space inside the William and Janet Strickler Nonprofit Center.

Eagle Village received $5,000 from the Kellogg Youth Fund to assist families with the costs associated with intervention and counseling services.

HopeWell Ranch received $2,120 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the HopeWell Ranch Rabbit Hole. Funds will be used to improve and expand an area used to educate visitors about caring for rabbits. The modern rabbitry will house different breeds for the purpose of therapy.

Humane Animal Treatment Society received $5,000 from the Fabiano Family Fund and Summit Petroleum Fund to purchase animal safe disinfectant, cleaning products, and personal protection equipment (PPE) to provide a safe environment for both the animals in shelter and the public that visits.

Isabella County Child Advocacy Center received $15,000 from the Darlene Bond Memorial Youth Fund, Shepherd Community Fund Honoring Robert H. Bates, Isabella Bank Director Memorial Fund, Hersee Family Fund, and Weisenburger Family Fund for the Protect Yourself 2.0 program. The program is a series of educational lessons for third-grade students in Isabella County on how to recognize and respond to the potential dangers of internet and social media usage.

Michigan Arts Access received $1,800 from the Kellogg Youth Fund for the Artists-in-Residence program. This program promotes learning through the arts for students receiving special education services in Isabella County through the Gratiot-Isabella RESD.

PACE Central Michigan received $5,500 from the Isabella County Health Improvement Fund to purchase two ultraviolet lights that will be used to disinfect buses, the shower room, and the clinic room, keeping the senior participants safe.

Applications for the next competitive grant cycle are due September 23, 2020. For more information on grant eligibility or ways to support the endowed funds that make these grants possible, visit mpacf.org.