Community Foundation Awards $52,662 in Grants to Island Projects
By Jessica Delaney

The Mackinac Island Community Foundation has awarded $52,662 to 14 Island projects this summer, the greatest amount of money disbursed in a grant cycle. The Foundation awards grants twice a year from the earnings of its endowments.

Grants are awarded for special projects which might otherwise not receive sufficient funding and which meet the missions of the various endowments held by the Foundation. This year, projects range from trash receptacles to school horses.

Mackinac Island Public School will be able to fund a number of its new projects through the Community Foundation grants. The school received $2,000 to fund music programs this summer. This will include piano lessons as well as a summer band program, as well as woodwind and brass instrumentation.

The City of Mackinac received money to purchase and maintain flower baskets along the city streets. The flowers are a welcome splash of color for people on the Island. The grant was awarded from the general fund for $2,000.

Mackinac Horseman’s Association received two grants, one, worth $430, will allow the purchase of a public address system for the summer horse shows. The Horseman’s Association also received $2,500 to purchase a school horse. A well-trained, kid-safe horse will be purchased for the Horse Association and the 4-H Club to train local children to ride. Over the summer, about 40 children participate in activities with the Association.

Mackinac Island Recreational Development received a $485.20 grant to fund a rafting trip. The mission behind the trip is to promote health and fitness in elementary students. Money for the grant came through the Foundation’s Youth Activities Committee. MIRD also received a grant to purchase six new trash receptacles for Great Turtle Park.

One of the most exciting projects to receive money is the school’s Metronome program, which received $3,530. The Interactive Metronome is a computer-base program that helps children with learning difficulties and part of the program funding will be used to train local residents in its operation. The nearest city which uses the new metronome technology is Grand Rapids.

Mackinac Island Brownie Troop #350 received $450 to send the troop to Great Lakes Lodge for scouting week.

The Mackinac Island Fire Department took another step to keep the Island safe when it applied for and received $2,324 to purchase a portable defibrillator for their Rescue 1 vehicle, which also will operate as a backup ambulance.

The Mackinac Island Police Department received a $1,499 General Fund grant to purchase a projector, which will be used in public safety demonstrations and for officer training.

Tennis players will be happy to know that Mackinac Associates received a $950 grant to purchase new nets and equipment for the public tennis courts near Arch Rock.

Mackinac Island Public Library has also received a grant of $500, which will go toward hosting a puppet show and a book signing to promote reading among children.

The Mackinac Island Medical Center will be receiving a disbursement of $25,664.81 from it’s own endowed fund, and the Mackinac Island Public Library will receive $4,982.31. These are the largest disbursements either organization has received from the Community Foundation.

Money contributed to the various endowments held by the Mackinac Island Community Foundation are invested, and only the interest earned from the investments is used for the grants.