MICHIGAN GATEWAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS $145,148 IN GRANTS

The Michigan Gateway Community Foundation has awarded $145,148 in grants to local programs. The funds will be distributed as follows:

• $24,479.10 from the Help4Homes Fund to the City of Niles for home repairs for low-income and senior-owned homes in Niles.

• $7,000 from the Niles Area Fund for the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce to create digital storefronts for nonprofit organizations in Niles.

• $835.41 from the Cass Community Fund for Cass Area Artists to support the regional art exhibit at the Cass County Regional Gallery in Cassopolis.

• $2,000 from the Cass Community Fund to the Cass County Historical Society for interior painting of the historic Red Brick Schoolhouse.

• $20,000 from the Buchanan Area Fund and Walt Schirmer Jr. Fund to The Salvation Army for rental and utility assistance not covered by MEAP throughout south Berrien County.

• $5,000 from the Youth Advisory Council Fund to United Way for the Cass County Backpack Program.

• $1,075 from the Youth Advisory Council Fund to Buchanan Community Schools to support their Positive Attendance Program.

• $14,471 from the Catherine and Louis Desenberg Fund and the B.R. & Marjorie H. Desenberg Endowment to the Buchanan District Library for their construction capital campaign.

• $5,000 from the Unity Fund to the Buchanan Area Senior Center to replace fitness equipment with new models that include body scanning functions.

• $2,350 from the Walter E. Schirmer Jr. Fund to One Buchanan to support their Empowering Women Forum.

• $7,000 from the Unity Fund, Corrie Listenberger Bair Fund, Ann S. Cone Fund for Families & Youth, and the Youth Advisory Council Fund to Rising Kite for the distribution of resource bags and compassionate assistance to families navigating a Down Syndrome diagnosis across Berrien County.

• $5,000 from the Walter E. Schirmer Jr. Fund to the City of Buchanan for a National Register nomination for Days Avenue and the Mill Race Historic District.

• $10,000 from the Walter E. Schirmer Jr. Fund and the Mahlon J. and Thelma C. Smith Endowment to Fernwood Botanical Garden for scholarships and support for their summer outdoor education camps.

• $2,300 from the Youth Advisory Council Fund to the Buchanan District Library to support the Buchanan Backpack Program.

• $15,637 from the Walter E. Schirmer Jr. Fund and Youth Advisory Council Fund to support the Lake Michigan Steamworks program, including the purchase of 3D printers, CAD-capable laptops, and necessary upgrades to their 3D printing room.

• $8,000 from the Youth Advisory Council Fund and the Healthy Youth Healthy Seniors Fund for cultural arts programming at the Buchanan District Library and Buchanan Area Senior Center.

• $10,000 from the Buchanan Area Fund and the George W. Romney Fund for signage at the Myron Perlman Nature Preserve, enabling accessible trails for volunteer-led school field trips and self-guided access to the preserve.

The Foundation accepts grant proposals twice a year, with submission deadlines of August 1 and February 1. Proposals are reviewed promptly, with decisions typically available within one month. Each proposal is evaluated based on its potential value to the community and the availability of funding resources.

For more information about Michigan Gateway Community Foundation or to make a contribution supporting your community, contact Michael P. Rowland at 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI 49107, visit www.mgcf.org, or call 269-695-3521.

Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Grant Awards for February

Over the past month, the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has been hard at work reviewing grant requests and making impactful decisions to support local programs. At their February meeting, the YAC considered six grant requests and voted to award a total of $19,365 to the following organizations:

• $5,000 to United Way for the Cass Backpack Spectacular

• $1,075 to Buchanan High School for the Positive Attendance Program

• $1,990 to Rising Kites for the distribution of resource bags

• $2,300 to Buchanan District Library for the Buchanan Backpack Program

• $5,000 to Lake Michigan Steamworks to purchase 3D printers

• $4,000 to Cultural Arts Everywhere for cultural programming in Buchanan

The Youth Advisory Council continues to make a positive impact in our community by supporting programs that foster education, creativity, and well-being. You can check out pictures from the YAC’s work on our Facebook page, or I can send them to you directly!

For more information on grants, scholarships, YAC, or anything else visit www.mgcf.org