Community Foundation Grants $47,000+

Mackinac Island Community Foundation distributed $13,841 .15 during its fall grant round, bring the total value of grants awarded in 2004 to $47,756.16.

Mackinac Island Recreational Development received two grants. “Skates for Mackinac” is a program in which MIRD will purchase skates to be used by children and adults at Great Turtle Park’s ice rink in the horse ring.

MIRD’s other grant will be used to purchase a new treadmill for the Mackinac Island Public School gym, which is available to students and Island residents.

The school also received two grants. One grant was to purchase a motivational learning tool called Classroom Jeopardy, that plays like the television game show and allows teachers to add their own questions.

The other grant funded the school’s cheerleading squad to attend cheerleading competition at the Palace of Auburn Hills this winter. The group also attended a Pistons basketball game.

The Mackinac Island Cemetery Board was awarded a grant to fund a restoration project for marble headstones. Up to five unmarked graves will receive headstones through the project, in an ongoing effort by the board to mark all graves at the cemeteries.

Mackinac Island Medical Center was awarded a grant to undertake a landscaping project to reinforce the bank on the northeast side of the facility’s driveway. The medical staff has volunteered to do the labor. The money from the grant will be used to purchase supplies.

Kathy Andress and Jewell Geyer’s “Meals on Wheels” program also received a Community Foundation grant. The program prepares and delivers two hot meals a week to the Island’s elderly and handicapped residents.

The Community Foundation was able to increase the amount of grants awarded to the community by $6,700 compared to 2003. The next grant round will begin in March. Applications will be due April 1.

Mackinac Island Community Foundation will hold a workshop for those who would like to learn more about writing grant applications. The workshop will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Foundation office Wednesday, March 23. There is no admission fee.