May Newsletter

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Community Foundation,

As the vibrant spirit of spring fills the air, we at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation are thrilled to share with you the latest updates and highlights from our recent endeavors.

Creating a Strong, Vibrant, Caring Community

Youth Advisory Council (YAC):

On April 21, 2024 we toured Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve and learned about this amazing nonprofit located right in our back yard!

Every April our YAC tours a different nonprofit. During this tour YAC members get to learn what the nonprofit offers to the community. This April our YAC members chose to tour Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve.

“Fernwood’s mission is to enrich people's lives by awakening and deepening their appreciation of nature.”

Buchanan Summer Concert Series : The Summer Concert Series, a partnership between the City of Buchanan, Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and our valued donors will commence on June 1st with "An Evening With Brendan Bayliss". The purpose of the concert series is to provide free and equitable opportunities in arts & culture for the community. Shows range from nationally touring acts, festivals and local acts. These shows also provide valuable fundraising opportunities for the non profit community through our concessions program. That means you can not only enjoy music on a nice summer day, but support the community as well, simply by attending. Finally, we have an endowment built for the Buchanan Common that will provide resources in perpetuity.

Please visit Michigan Gateway Community Foundation (mgcf.org) for details on how to become a donor.

Scholarship Overview

For the month of May we would like to share a special spotlight, on an important scholarship for our students in Cass County. The Joseph Norton Sheteron Scholarship, provides one scholarship for a student is Cass County for secondary education, this scholarship is renewable for three years. Click here to learn more about the Joseph Norton Sheteron Scholarship.

Be sure to be checking our social media and website to see who our 2024 scholarship recipients are!

Show Me the Money Day:

On Saturday May 4, 2024 we hosted our second Show Me the Money Day! We had eleven amazing and informative vendors. Our event was from 11am-2pm,and during this time we welcomed 25-30 people through our doors to learn more about community and financial resources.

Lunch was provided thanks to Lowery’s Meat & Grocery for donating hot dogs as well as Harding’s Market donating a $50 card for us to purchase groceries with.

Within our event we were able to give out a lot of door prizes and three Grand Prizes to our participants!

We thank our staff, volunteers, vendors and our sponsors for all of their help without their support it would not be possible to host such an event.

Thank you to the Catherine and Lou Desenberg for your generous donation.

Sponsors:

Buchanan Area Senior Center
Buchanan Sweet Shop - Cafe Italiano
Front Street Real Estate - Jason Stroud Team
Gary Z’s Sub Shop
Harding’s Market
Honor Credit Union
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation
Lowery’s Meat & Grocery
Starks Family Funeral Service - Swem Chapel
Sturgis Banks - Niles Center
The Niles-Buchanan YMCA
The Salvation Army
Union Coffee House & Cafe

Vendors:

Buchanan Area Senior Center
Buchanan College Club
Buchanan Promise
Ferry Street Resources
Front Street Real Estate-Jason Stroud Team
Honor Credit Union
Kickstart 2 Careers
Lake Michigan College
Northwestern Mutual
Starks Family Funeral Service - Swem Chapel
The Salvation Army

Ways to Get Involved

Your involvement is essential to our success. Here's how you can contribute to our mission in 2024:

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.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to Michigan Gateway Community Foundation. Together, let’s continue to spring forward with purpose, passion, and positivity! Together, we can make a lasting impact and create a brighter future for all.

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