Muskegon, MI - November 14, 2005 << Return to Press Release Page For More Information, Call: Arnold (Arn) Boezaart, Vice President - Grant Programs Community Foundation for Muskegon County Tel: (231) 722-4538 FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS On October 24, 2005, the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County met and approved grant awards totaling over $235,437 to a variety of organizations in support of projects throughout the Muskegon region. Highlights of the grant awards developed through the work of numerous volunteer committees and ratified by the Board of Trustees are listed below: Distribution Committee: Grants from the Distribution Committee are made from the Foundation's unrestricted pool of funds and can support a broad range of community needs including: Arts, Community/Urban Redevelopment and Improvement, Education, Environment and Health & Human Services. Salvation Army - $25,000 - to support the capital campaign for renovation of the current Salvation Army facility. Hume Home - $10,000 - to support the capital renovations campaign. Mercy General Health Partners - $10,000 - to support the new Imaging Center. MOKA/Deaf, Hard of Hearing Center - $5,000 - to support third year support for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Center. One Muskegon - $5,000 - to support visits by Mr. Rusk in leading the Muskegon region through functional consolidation planning. Friends of the Musketawa Trail - $4,000 - to support the restoration of the C. & O. Railroad Water Tower which sits adjacent to the trail. Sacred Suds - $3,000 - to support the expansion of the neighborhood outreach and laundry program. Community Mental Health Services of Muskegon County - $2,000 - to support rent deposits which will allow the chronically homeless to secure housing. Julia Hackley Fund: Grants from the Julia E. Hackley Memorial Fund support programs and projects of non-profit agencies and organizations who work to meet the needs of poor and underprivileged citizens living in the City of Muskegon Goodwill Industries - $9,300 - to support transitional housing and employment programs to families needing emergency housing. Bethany Housing Ministries - $3,000 - to support home repairs for transitional housing units. First Congregational Church - $2,500 - to support the Saturday Morning Breakfast program. Mission for Area People - $2,000 - to support the food pantry outreach. Environmental Endowment Fund: The Environmental Endowment Fund of the Foundation was established in 1998 to support proposals and grant requests that build community environmental capacity and awareness, that educate young and old, both formally and informally and promote the environmental interests of the Muskegon region. Specific interests include a smart growth approach to land-use planning, protection and restoration of green spaces and watersheds as well as the restoration of critical dune areas and other natural resources. Grant applicants are encouraged to discuss their interests with staff prior to the submission of a grant proposal. Muskegon County MSU Extension Program - $10,000 - to support for the establishment of a Land Use Policy Educator position at the Muskegon MSU Extension office. Funds awarded will provide year-one local match support for a three-year declining MSU/Kellogg Foundation People and Land grant. Youth Advisory Council: Grants awarded by the fourteen member Youth Advisory Council representing local High Schools, are selected to meet youth needs. In late 2003, the Council conducted a student needs assessment and this year has identified projects and programs that engage youth in the community and involve them in constructive activities while building unity among youth as a focus for their grantmaking. Hurricane Katrina/Rita Relief Efforts - $6,050 - to support hurricane relief efforts in the southern United States. Funds will be divided equally between Save the Children, the American Red Cross, the NAACP and International Aid. CFMC/Homelessness Prevention Fund - $6,050 - to support the building of a permanent endowment fund that will help meet the needs of homeless individuals and families in Muskegon County West Michigan Community Help Network - $5,000 - to support the student mentor program. Disability Connection - $3,000 - to support the Youth and Transition services program. Lakeshore Youth for Christ - $1,145 - to support the Hot Topics forums and the Talent Nights which will engage area youth in constructive after school activities. Department of Human Services/Child Haven - $1,500 - to support holiday programs and activities for the children residing at Child Haven Youth Home. Every Woman's Place/Webster House - $1,500 - to support holiday programs and activities for the youth at Webster House. Catholic Human Development Outreach - $500 - to support food assistance for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Muskegon County Medical Society Fund: Since 1965 the Muskegon County Medical Society Fund has contributed through its Foundation to a broad array of health-related community projects. The Muskegon County Medical Society will continue that mission by considering grant requests and making recommendations to the Community Foundation on the use of the fund. St. Mary's School - $2,270 - to support the purchase of 10 microscopes. Muskegon Area Intermediate School District - $1,500 - to support the West Michigan Science Challenge. Mona Shores Public Schools - $2,363.85 - to support the purchase of educational materials for the astronomy program. White Lake Community Fund: Grants from the White Lake Community Fund focus on meeting the needs of residents of the White Lake area including the Cities of Whitehall and Montague. Arts Council of White Lake - $ 2,719 - to support West Shore Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert. White Lake Community Library - $2,000 - to support Tellabration, A Tale of Two Cities. White Lake Historical Society - $1,900 - to support the placement of a Historical Marker at the Staples-Covell Mill. Arts Council of White Lake - $500 - to support West Shore Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert. Muskegon Habitat for Humanity - $2,000 - to support a new construction project in the White Lake Area. Greater Muskegon Women and Children's Fund: Grants from the Women & Children's Fund support projects that will improve the quality of life for women and children in the Muskegon area. Mission for Area People - $2,000 - to support the food pantry outreach. West Shore Symphony Orchestra - $2,500 - to support the Carnegie LinkUp! Education Concert. Thomas and Geraldine Seyferth Fund: Grants from the Thomas and Geraldine Seyferth Fund support community development projects that benefit the youth in Muskegon County, as well as awarding scholarships to students pursuing a 4-year degree. LEAD 2005 - $8,200 - to support the LEAD 2005 Scholarships for 2005-2006 school year. Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Economic Development Fund: Grants from the MSHDA Fund support commercial and economic development in neighborhoods with MSHDA housing projects. City of Muskegon - $50,000 - to provide local community match for a $325,460 W. Western Avenue Streetscape improvement grant recently awarded to the City of Muskegon by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Arts and Entertainment Inc. (DBA Muskegon Main Street) - $30,000 - to replenish project match funds for the Downtown Façade Improvement Program originally established in 2001. Healthy Youth/Healthy Seniors Fund Initiated with dollars allocated to the State of Michigan from the Master Tobacco Settlement, this fund supports tobacco education and cessation programs and other programming encouraging good health in seniors and youth. Muskegon Community Health Project - $5,940 - to support the Kids Against Tobacco counter marketing effort. This effort will involve all Muskegon County youth in grades 4-6 by inviting them to participate in an anti-tobacco poster contest. Three winning entries will be displayed on billboards across the community for a minimum of 30 days each. WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION? The Community Foundation for Muskegon County was created in 1961 to improve the quality of life for Muskegon County residents. As a publicly-supported community endowment, the Foundation receives and manages contributions from thousands of community citizens and organizations who are committed to the future of Muskegon County. The Community Foundation supports community projects in the areas of Arts, Education, Muskegon and Downtown Development, Health and Human Services and Environment. The Foundation reflects the vision of Muskegon County residents and provides a cost effective vehicle for contributing to the community through gifts of any size and of many types. HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT? Grants are generally awarded twice each year, once in the spring and again in the fall of the year. Organizations interested in seeking grant support from the Community Foundation are encouraged to call the Foundation office for more specific information about the grant program and application process. << Return to Press Release Page