January 2025

A Fresh Start: Looking Ahead to 2025 Happy New Year from all of us at the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation! As we step into 2025, we’re excited to continue partnering with you to make our community stronger, more vibrant, and full of opportunities. This year holds many exciting possibilities, and we can’t wait to share our journey with you.

MGCF Scholarship Application Opens January 15th!
We’re excited to announce that the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s scholarship application opens on January 15th! High school seniors from Buchanan, Niles, Brandywine, & Cass County schools and current local college students in the healthcare field are encouraged to apply for a wide variety of scholarships to support their educational journey.

Deadline: March 15, 2025

Get started today by reviewing the Scholarship Handbook below. The handbook includes detailed information about available scholarships, eligibility requirements, and tips for submitting a strong application.

Visit our website to apply at www.mgcf.org/scholarships!

Scholarship handbook link to file on our website: https://terrier-soybean-7rme.squarespace.com/s/2024-2025-Scholarship-Handbook.pdf

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Applications for our upcoming grant cycle are due February 1st. If you have any questions contact us at info@mgcf.org. You can also find information regarding grants here.

Cassopolis Band Boosters

In August, the Cassopolis Band Boosters approached us with a grant request to purchase four new tonal bass drums for the Cassopolis Ranger Pride Marching band.

“With new drums, our drumline would figuratively "unlock" a series of new options regarding rhythmic ideas and execution. We anticipate this would be reflected in our Scholastic Marching Circuit Percussion Adjudication scores in future seasons.”

We awarded the Cassopolis Band Booster $2,235.00 to purchase four new tonal bass drums for the marching band. We were happy to support the Cass Band Boosters and we look forward to watching them continue to improve and meet their goals in the upcoming future. Be sure to use the link below and check out the awesome video they created.

Click here to watch this great video Cass Band Boosters created.

Kickstart to Careers

Our last deposit day was December 19, 2024 and we are happy to say we had a total of 57 students who brought in a total of $624.18 that they deposited into their accounts. Our next and first deposit day of the new year is January 16, 2025. Make sure if you have a student in the Kickstart Program to send them in with a deposit next Thursday!

Youth Advisory Council

Our YAC have an upcoming meeting this Sunday January 12, 2025 to discuss their goals for the remaining school year. During this time they have been working on setting up future volunteer projects, big check presentations and our senior Sunday post! Make sure you are following our Facebook and our Instagram for important info and updates!

Ross Sanders House Update

We have hosted three open houses on three different dates for contractors to understand the significance of the property. As part of our commitment to excellence, we’re currently in the process of gathering proposals from qualified experts who share our passion for preserving history. To stay up to date with the remolding check out our Ross Sanders House Facebook Page and Website.

Ways to Get Involved

Your involvement is essential to our success. Here's how you can contribute to our mission in 2025:

Donate: Your financial support, no matter the amount, goes a long way in helping our community thrive.

Volunteer: Ask us how to get involved in the Foundation! We are always in need of volunteers to assist with scholarship selection committees, mentorship programs, and community events. Your time and expertise are invaluable.

Spread the Word: Share our newsletter and the work of the Community Foundation with your friends and family. Together, we can reach even more individuals who want to make a difference.

Here’s to a year filled with hope, growth, and collaboration. Thank you for being an integral part of our community!

With Gratitude and warm regards,
Your Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Family