Ten grants were recently approved by the Midland Area Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, including four from the Midland Area Youth Action Council. The total grantmaking for the second quarter amounted to $251,988, with the Youth Action Council contributing $21,988 and the Community Investment grants accounting for $230,000. The Community Investment grants are sourced from funds that support the charitable, cultural, educational, recreational, and scientific needs of the Midland area, in alignment with the Community Foundation’s purpose.
The Community Foundation’s second-quarter grants range from $2,000 to $60,000, each focusing on one of four significant areas of community improvement: building our livelihood, developing our talent, caring for our people, and enriching our community. Through their grant applications, community partners shared how the Community Foundation’s investment would allow them to scale their impact in one or more of these areas.
“We are pleased and humbled to have the opportunity to support organizations that transform our community with their commitment to service and alignment to our community’s vision statement,” said Sharon Mortensen, President & CEO of the Midland Community Foundation.
Second-quarter grants for 2024 include:
- ARC of Midland – $40,000
This funding supports the Personal Representation Program. Personal Representation assists 70 people as Guardians or Payees in making complex life decisions and managing their finances. It also helps another 82 invest savings without impacting benefits eligibility.
- Camp Centaur Incorporated – $20,000
Camp Centaur is a Summer Camp for children with cancer and/or their siblings. It is a dedicated camp with horseback riding, arts and crafts, folk art, wagon rides, nature trails, and fishing. This grant will support upgrades for the camp. The schoolhouse’s roof is damaged and needs complete repair, with an added overhang to store picnic tables and camp supplies. Additional repairs include renovations of the hot water heater, building supplies, labor, concrete labor, and plumbing.
- Central Michigan Mountain Biking Association – $60,000
The Central Michigan Mountain Bike Association (CMMBA) is leading a collaboration to develop a new skills park and progressive flow trails to create a learning environment for youth and the local bike community. This grant supports this partnership, which aims to increase engagement from youth and families in cycling. A cornerstone of this mission is to provide low-risk and easily accessible resources to decrease the barrier to entry and make the sport available to all in our community.
- Doxa Development – $30,000
This funding will be used over three years to host Doxa Dinners, community-funded micro-grant events that highlight and support the growing entrepreneurial and small business community in the City of Midland and surrounding County.
“Thanks to the generous support from the Midland Area Community Foundation, we are able to provide a platform for individuals to collaborate, share resources, and tangibly support each other’s business and entrepreneurial ideas,” said Adrian Montague, Executive Director of Doxa Development.
- Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan – $40,000
The funds will be used over two years for financial assistance, supplies, marketing, and direct services to recruit and retain girls and adult volunteers in Girl Scouts in Midland County.
- Lions Visually Impaired Youth Camp Inc – $7,000 (Youth Action Council Grant)
The Lions’ Board will leverage this grant, along with others, to sustain a residential camp experience (2 1/2 weeks) for 175 children with disabilities in MI. This grant will provide educational, recreational, and developmental programs exclusively for (8) youth from Midland County. This will impact a child’s well-being, expand personal relationships & motivate each child to reach his/her full potential.
- Midland County Road Commission – $40,000
This project will replace the aging emergency diesel generator at Midland County Road Commission’s Sanford facility, originally from WW2. This outdated equipment presents operational hazards due to its age and lack of modern system support. The new generator will guarantee uninterrupted power supply during emergencies, enabling the Road Commission to maintain critical operations like communications and emergency response. This upgrade directly enhances the safety and welfare of residents.
“With a reliable generator, we can virtually eliminate disruptions to our operations. Being able to respond promptly to emergencies and maintaining essential services like road maintenance and snow removal are critical. Therefore, this upgrade ensures that we can continue serving the community with safe, efficient, and reliable services, even during challenging situations,” said Jonathan Myers, Managing Director of the Midland County Road Commission.
- Rayola Inc. – $2,000 (Youth Action Council Grant)
Rayola is an organization that provides care packages for children in foster care and children in need. This grant will help purchase the items that we put into the care packages. A portion of this grant will also be used to buy supplies for the building. Rayola now has to store supplies and have sewing days for the care packages.
- The Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan, Inc – $10,000 (Youth Action Council Grant)
Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan (RMHCWM) supports families facing medical crises by providing no-cost accommodation and essential amenities like meals, transportation, toiletries, and toys. RMHCWM collaborates with local medical providers to ensure that families in need receive assistance. RMHCWM underwent construction to increase the number of rooms they offer from 17 to 25. This increase will allow them to house more families in 2024, hopefully decreasing the current waiting list. At an average rate of $197 per night, the Family Support Program needs funding to support the additional families. These funds will go towards the guest expenses of the RMHCWM House, including food, shuttle services, cleaning supplies, and security.
- Underground Railroad – Girls on the Run (GOTR) – $2,988 (Youth Action Council Grant)
GOTR Great Lakes Bay will utilize this grant to update the GOTR program content. This project includes a new suite of curricula across 2024-2025 with enhanced programming for 3rd-5th grade participants. The first curriculum in the three-part series, entitled “Hello, Superstar!” embodies the confidence, acceptance, and power that GOTR can unleash in every girl who participates. It is anticipated that over 100 Midland participants will be positively impacted annually.
Competitive grants are offered quarterly. Grants are open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies, educational institutions, and government entities in Midland County. To inquire about donating, establishing a fund, or applying for a grant, contact the Community Foundation at (989) 839-9661 or info@midlandfoundation.org.